Different Types of Flexible Schedules for Schools - Enriching Students For each of the 7 planned courses, flex periods are additional (shorter) meeting times that are integrated into the bell schedule. Flex Period in Middle & High Schools - Enriching Students But there is no official federal data on students access to supplies like sanitary pads and tampons. Heres how to sway them. Beyond targeted state funding, it may be possible for schools to use various federal grant programs to cover the cost of period products for some students. In this climate, though, where schools are rethinking schedules and . While some require schools to stock restrooms with the supplies, others allow them to make the products available by request from school nurses. Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide elementary, middle, high school and more. At Sanborn Regional High School, a flex period is a part of every student's day and aligns with the school's competency-based learning model. All About Flex Time in Schools - Enriching Students The habit can frustrate teachers. Check out our What is a Flex Period post for a summary of the basics or our Ultimate Guide to Flex Periods for a deeper dive. Providing access to menstrual supplies coincide with schools larger efforts to address students nonacademic needs. Features of Flex Scheduling include: Highly flexible and configurable Class Calendars (CCL and CCD) Highly manageable section assignments for teachers and school staff. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they had worn products longer than recommended, which can lead to dangerous health conditions, such as toxic shock syndrome. A Flex Period is a set time of the daily schedule (usually around 30 to 45 minutes) where students go somewhere different each day. They give regular classes 45 minutes each, except for the 2nd period, which gets a few extra minutes for announcements. A flex block is a flexible time period set aside in the school day that gives students time for extra help or enrichment opportunities. The National Institutes of Health says the average American girl starts menstruation at age 12. School Shootings This Year: How Many and Where, Teachers Are Facing an 'Intentional Toxic Disrespect,' Secretary Cardona Says, What Ted Lasso Can Teach Us About School Sports, How School Leaders Can Support Social-Emotional Learning (and Retain Teachers, Too), Building social-emotional learning with Prodigy, Tomorrows Success Begins with Engaging Your Students Learn How, AI in Education: Big Opportunities, Big Problems, Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff, Serving Students' Mental and Physical Health Needs: Results of a National Survey, Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: 4 Takeaways From Educators, Students Doodle. Why Example Flex Period Schedules Are Important Ultimate Guide to Flex Periods | Edficiency Flex Periods, which go by many names, including Intervention Blocks, Activity Periods, and WIN Time, are becoming commonplace in middle and high schools across the United States. To make a Rotating Schedule flexible, you could take a few minutes from each period or block to create a flex period, as in other examples. A flex period is a part of every student's day, and aligns with the school's competency-based learning model. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia now require schools to provide free menstrual products to students, but the majority of them provide districts no additional funding to support those efforts, a new analysis finds. Sixteen additional states and D.C. have passed various versions of period poverty laws since, the NCSB report found, but 10 states and the District of Columbia do not provide funding to support those efforts. More States Call on Schools to Provide Period Products, But Many Dont Fund Mandates, to provide free menstrual products to students. PRISM students need to notify their teachers at least 24 hours in advance of a PRISM class. Flex time is a flexible period of time in a school schedule where students can get what they need, when they need it. Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair. While most schools start their Flex Period with interventions in mind . Fatigue, lack of laundry access, need for mental health services, and unreliable transportation can all create hurdles to learning, school leaders say. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona is pictured in downtown Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2023. urging more federal funding and data on the issue. Thu., July 06, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Flex periods are implemented on a rotating basis. More States Call on Schools to Provide Period Products, But Many Don't A Multiple Period Flex Block Some schools split their flex block into multiple periods. What is a Flex Period? FLEX period - Northfield Public Schools A flex period is an allotted period of time during the school day that teachers use to meet with one or more students. Flex periods are typically a 20 to 45-minute block of time, depending on the school. ET. Results were weighted by race. Surging absences threaten schools' learning recovery efforts. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff. In 2019, a group of womens advocates called the United for Access campaign wrote to then-U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, urging more federal funding and data on the issue. What does flex period mean? Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said as he signed the states 2018 law. What is Flex Scheduling? : Aeries Software In addition to helping students catch up or meet competencies, it allows them to pursue topics and activities that interest them. In March, an Oregon lawmaker proposed narrowing his states law by lifting requirements for charter schools and boys restrooms to stock the items. Respondents to that online surveyadministered by Period, a national organization founded by two high school students included about 1,000 menstruating teens ages 13 to 19. The school's bell schedule operates on a six-day (A-F) cycle. 5 Reasons Your School Should Have a Flex Block Why should your school consider adding a flex block to its schedule? Education Week + DigitalVision Vectors + iStock/Getty Images. Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more. Most state laws require period supplies in girls and unisex restrooms. Districts are no longer limited to ten designated periods in a day. Often born from an Advisory Period, they can go by many names, like Activity Period, Flex Block, Tutorial Period, or Intervention Period (for more on the most common names for Flex Periods, check out the 5 Most Popular Flex Period Names in Middle & High Schools ). They will often rotate through every 2 to 3 weeks or so. This could be two, three, or even more multiple periods. Obviously, it doesnt make sense to have these products in a kindergarten boys bathroom, Republican state Sen. Art Robinson told the Herald and News newspaper. Or, you could assign one of the periods as the flex period. Menstrual products are as necessary as toilet paper and soap, but can be one expense too many for struggling families, former New York Gov. New York became the first state to require free period products in schools in 2018, and many other states have passed or considered similar bills in the time since, according to an analysis released last week by the National Association of State Boards of Education. Flex periods offer struggling students an opportunity to seek help and guidance from any of their teachers. In high schools, students can drift from one teacher or support staff to another as they have questions or need extra guidance. FLEX is a 60-minute period that occurs daily between 4th and 5th hour, and provides students an opportunity to have lunch and engage in academic supports, physical activity, social opportunities, or unstructured time in supervised settings. Understanding the FLEX period - WW-P Middle Schools - SharpSchool Find out in this virtual event. Robinsons bill has not advanced. Homeless coordinators have told Education Week they use that funding to pay for everything from new shoes and winter coats to stocking supply closets with basic necessities like soap and tampons. This content is provided by our sponsor. In contrast, a 2022 Utah law is far more expansive. Students can get help with standards they are struggling with or work on enrichment or honors projects. What are the Benefits of Flex Periods in High School? A Flex Time Period is a set time in the daily schedule (usually around 20 to 45 minutes) where students go somewhere different each day (as opposed to always going to math for their first period, for instance). What is a Flex class in school? They meet for extra help, intervention, enrichment, social-emotional learning, and more. While the format might vary from school to school, the purpose remains the same: to give students a chance to follow their own interests and manage their own learning time. A weekly schedule of activities and options for FLEX period is available to students on their iPads. Grade Flex Time 8 9:34 - 10:04 7 11:00 - 11:30 Get the latest education news delivered to your inbox daily. 19 Benefits of Flex Periods in Schools - Edficiency PDF Flex Time Flex Period - University of California, Berkeley Six additional states dont require schools to offer pads and tampons, but they provide some funding to support voluntary efforts to do so. Flexible High School Schedule Examples | Enriching Students Typically a FLEX period may be scheduled during the middle of the school day and lasts for about 30 minutes or so. Thedefinitionanduseofaflexperiodvariesacrossschoolsanddistricts.Typically,aflexperiodinvolvesthefollowing:Betweenregularlyscheduledcourses,studentsareassignedtoaflexclassroomtoreviewmaterialorwork independently.Flextimecanalsobeusedforattendingschool wideevents.Andifastudentneedshelpfromateacherinanotherpartofthebuilding,heorshecangetapassandvis. In Colorado, for example, a 2021 law created an application-based program that provides grants from $1,000 to $5,000 to districts where at least 50 percent of students qualify for free- and reduced-price meals. Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles. 11 High School Schedules with Flex Periods - Edficiency Implement a regular flex time period - Unlocking Time Student advocates have said efforts to provide free menstrual products make sense in that context. Funding levels and grant qualifications vary in those states. State laws that require schools to provide menstrual products vary. The state will provide funding to support those efforts in early years, but districts must find ways to pay for them independently by 2025. Federal McKinney-Vento funding, for example, can be used to help meet the personal needs of homeless students that may create barriers for learning and attendance. Kingston, NH. Thirty-eight percent of respondents said they sometimes or often cannot do their best schoolwork due to lack of access to period products, the survey found. How Teachers Can Use That Habit to Teach Mindfulness, The Surprising Ways You Can Influence Students Decisions. It requires public school districts and charter schools to offer free menstrual products in all girls and unisex restrooms in elementary, middle, and high schools. This report details findings from a survey of K-12 school health staffers, including school nurses and health teachers. Create a free account to save your favorite articles, follow important topics, sign up for email newsletters, and more. Often, one of these periods are used for lunch, and the others are used as flex blocks, either for enrichment or intervention activities. Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more. Student Loan Pause Extended? 7 Takeaways On Biden Student Debt - Forbes Students often doodlesometimes to fidget, to focus, or just to stay awake in class. The idea behind flex time is that students can build the skills to work effectively on their own and that through more choice and freedom, students will become more engaged in their learning. And those efforts have taken on new urgency since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when researchers estimate that levels of chronic absenteeism have as much as doubled in the nations schools. This schedule allows the students to have a break in the middle of the day from their core classes and ensures that students are present during FLEX time (by avoiding the late arrival and early dismissal crowds). 5 MORE Ways to Use a Flex Period in Middle & High Schools - Edficiency ET. Behind the Curtain of Flex Time (Opinion) - Education Week Thu., July 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. We need to make sure [these products] are available to every young girl in our schools, Senate Majority Whip Ann Millner, a Republican, told the Deseret News at the time. Flex Periods are becoming commonplace in middle and high schools across the country to help them provide more opportunities for their students. What is a Flex Period, and Why Does it Matter? What Is Flex Time In School? - Kentucky Charters Evie Blad is a reporter for Education Week. In its most basic form, a Flex Period is a superior version of the study hall. Advocates for borrowers had hoped that President Biden could extend the student loan pause again if the Supreme Court struck down his mass student loan forgiveness plan, as it did last week. Discover how to prioritize educational technology resources and effectively manage technology in schools. But . Schools frequently use them for a variety of purposes in their buildings once they realize how useful they can be for a variety of activities. 7 Middle School Schedules with Flex Periods - Edficiency In some states, schools without unisex restrooms must make them available for male students as well, a requirement aimed at inclusivity for transgender and nonbinary students. Implementing a Flex Time Period | Blended & Personalized Learning But new state laws dont always lead to universal access to the products, the report found, suggesting issues of funding, compliance, and details like where products are offered in schools affect whether the policies are effective in helping students. While nothing prohibits a school from providing menstrual products to students free of charge, many school leaders are unaware of the disparate access to these items, the negative impact the disparity has on access to education, and the low-cost solution, the analysis says. In the wake of COVID-19, schools are responding with a variety of scheduling choices, including a mix of in-person, virtual, and hybrid options. How to Start a Flex Period (in Middle & High Schools) - Edficiency Students can get help with . In the schedule example below, the flex period occurs at the same time after lunch every day, while the other classes continue their rotation. "A" and "D" days are reserved for the . The new laws aim to address period poverty, a term coined by student advocates who say inadequate access to tampons and sanitary pads can make it difficult for low-income menstruating students to attend school and engage in classroom work during their periods. Think students should make a certain choice? Flex Scheduling provides a creative way to build a Master Schedule (MST). This Utah-based school has a single Flex Period, called PROWL Period, in its seven-period schedule. Flex time usually lasts for 30-45 minutes. They then give their PROWL Period a pretty standard 30 minutes in the mid-morning between traditional classes. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? While some states, like California, had required schools to provide pads and tampons in high-poverty schools, New Yorks was the first to make the requirement universal for schools with 6th- through 12th-grade students. Flex Time in Middle Schools - Enriching Students What is a Flex Period? - Edficiency New York became the first state to require free period products in schools in 2018, and many other states have passed or considered similar bills in the time since, according to an analysis . Flex is the period in the day that provides time for students to address designated areas of academic growth and PRISM classes meet during the flex periods. Thu., July 13, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. However, it can be as little as 20 minutes, or last for an hour, or even an entire day. The latter can be a barrier for shy students or those who arent aware of the option. While they go by many names, like Intervention Blocks, Enrichment Periods, Tutorials Periods, Activity Period, Mascot Time, or even Advisory, schools find many reasons to implement them based on their own unique culture and goals. That bill passed unanimously in the states legislature. Twenty-three percent of students responding to a 2021 survey said they had struggled to afford period products. 5 Ways to Use a Flex Period in Middle & High Schools - Edficiency 2023 Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. States also vary in what levels of schools must provide products, with some focusing on secondary schools and others expanding the requirement to all grade levels. ET. Flex Periods, often called Intervention Blocks, Activity Periods, and WIN Time, among many other names, are becoming more common in middle and high schools across the United States. How can schools use AI effectively but avoid problems such as cheating and breakdowns in data privacy? What is a flex period and how can it be used in middle and high schools? Take charge of your enrichment - plan ahead! It empowers teachers to give students what they really need time, during the school day.
