Four-Day School Week Waiver

Four Day School Week Waiver

Department of Public Instruction | School Approval & Operations
North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) 15.1-06-04(5) requires a waiver for school districts wishing to implement a four-day school week. North Dakota Administrative Code (NDAC) 67-15-02 describes the requirements and application procedure for the four-day school week. Any school district using a four-day school week must comply with NDCC sections 15.1-21-03, 15.1-21-04, and 15.1-06-03, and 15.1-06-04.

Due Dates - Prior to the school year for which the four-day school week calendar is being sought, applications must be received by January 5. This includes both Initual and Extension applications.
Please choose one:
Section 1: Demographic Information

Can be found in the Educational Directory, Section D
District/School Name
County Number
LEA Number
School Number
Address

Mailing Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

ZIP Code
Administrator
Administrator Email
example@example.com
Date

MonthDayYear
2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit yearDate
School years for which the waiver is being requested
Section 2: Justification for Wavier Request
1. List the objectives of the district/school for this four-day school week proposal. In order for the waiver proposal to be approved, it must include a detailed description showing that it meets at least two of the following criteria, as outlined in NDAC 67-15-02-05 (2)(a-c): (1) The proposal is built around a continuous improvement process that includes the implementation of needs assessment, planning, analyzing data, and evaluation of educational outcomes; (2) Provides improved educational outcomes for students; or (3) provides additional academic opportunities for students.
Please include as much information as possible to show the benefits of the four-day school week and its positive impact on student learning.
2. Provide documentation of community input into the four-day school week proposal, including written correspondence on the subject, collected surveys, summaries of oral contacts, and a summary of any discussions at public meetings or hearings. Please also include any community feedback received in opposition to the four-day school week, as well as any adjustments that the school district made to try to alleviate those concerns.
3. Include the number of hours of instructional time for the school year immediately prior to the proposed change to a four-day school week. Please include a school calendar, the daily starting and dismissal times, and in the case of middle schools and high schools, a class schedule.
4a. Under the waiver proposal, how many hours of instruction would be provided for elementary students? Provide a school calendar, daily starting and dismissal times, and the length of the lunch period. [Note: The instructional time for elementary students under the four-day school week proposal must be at least nine hundred sixty-two and one-half hours for the school year.]
4b. Under the waiver proposal, how many hours of instruction would be provided for middle school and high school students? Provide a school calendar and a class schedule that covers each grade level. [Note: The instructional time for middle school and high school students under the four-day school week proposal must be at least one thousand fifty hours of instructional time for the school year].
5. Provide a contingency plan describing how the district/school will provide for makeup days and allowances for storms and other school closings.
6. Provide a professional development plan and explain how the district will offer professional development as a result of this four-day school week proposal. Please also provide information that describes how proposed professional development activities are expected to enhance academic opportunities and improve outcomes for students.
Section 3: Evaluation Plan

Explain specific plans to evaluate topics in Section 2. Attach additional documentation if necessary.
7a. How will student academic performance be measured under the four-day school week proposal? Please include grading methods, interim and summative testing procedures, and evaluation of student data used to improve instruction. What changes (if any) will occur as part of the shift to the four-day school week?
7b. Please describe how the proposal is built around a continuous improvement process that includes the implementation of needs assessment, planning, analyzing data, and evaluation of educational outcomes. Please include information regarding relevant educational trends and research, as well as how the school district will determine success. Please also include information regarding how a four-day school week will allow for greater success than what would be expected in a traditional school calendar.
7c. How will the four-day school week proposal improve or enhance academic opportunities for students? Please describe any additional course offerings, career readiness activities, work-based learning opportunities, internships, job shadows, or co-curricular activates that will occur as part of your four-day school week proposal.
7d. How will the four day school week proposal improve educational outcomes for students? Please include expected improvements to proficiency and growth, state ESSA accountability, or other expected improvements.
8. Please write two or more specific, measurable SMART goals related to student outcomes that you are hoping to accomplish in conjunction with the waiver. These goals should clearly reflect the student outcomes your district intends to impact. Please put the emphasis of the SMART goals on student outcomes and results as opposed to programs, activities, etc. If possible, please describe any connections with student outcome goal sand the long-term outcomes in the North Dakota PK-12 Education Strategic Framework. This may include (but are not restricted to) increases in the number of students who demonstrate reading proficiency in third grade, increases in the number of students who demonstrate math proficiency in eighth grade, increases in the number of students that meet expected learning gains each year, increases in the number of engaged students in the Student Engagement Survey, increases in the number of students that graduate Choice Ready, and/or reductions in the disparity in achievement for students with disabilities, students in poverty, and Native American students. Please ensure that each SMART goal is measurable, outcome‑focused, waiver‑aligned, and monitorable.
9a. In North Dakota, high school courses must consist of a minimum of 150 clock hours of instruction for science and CTE courses, and 120 clock hours of instruction for all other courses. Do your high school courses meet these hours requirements?
9b. Item 9b: Waiver of High School Unit Instructional Time (only complete if you answered “no” to question 9a): Please describe your high school class schedule (number of hours of class per day, number of days of school for the year, etc). Please also describe the goals and objectives of your class schedule as well as how the class schedule will enhance educational outcomes. If the goals for the waiver of high school unit instructional time are the same as your goals for your four-day school week proposal, please state that.
Section 4: Request for Extension Waiver

Please only fill out Section 4 if requesting an extension to an existing waiver
10a. If you are requesting an extension of a waiver previously granted under NDAC 67-15-02, provide evidence that (1) the district/school followed the four-day school week plan as approved by the State Superintendent, and (2) the requisite number of instructional hours for elementary, middle, and high school students has been delivered.
10b. Please provide evidence describing any additional academic opportunities provided to students as a result of the waiver. This may include additional course offerings, career readiness activities, work-based learning opportunities, internships, job shadows, and co-curricular activities meant to enhance student learning that were provided as a result of the waiver. Please include in your evidence information regarding how students benefitted from the four-day school week.
10c. Please provide evidence showing that enhanced student outcomes were achieved as a result of the waiver. This may include improvements to proficiency and growth, state ESSA accountability, or other quantifiable metrics in your school district’s strategic plan.
Administrator Signature
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File Upload - School Calendar

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File Upload - Bell Schedule

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File Upload - Board Minutes Approving Waiver Proposal

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File Upload - Additional Documentation (if needed)

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Four Day School Week Waiver

Section 1: Demographic Information

Section 2: Justification for Wavier Request

Section 3: Evaluation Plan

Section 4: Request for Extension Waiver