'Catch-up days' part of attendance changes
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | August 1, 2014 9:00 PM
Glacier and Flathead high school 2014-15 handbooks will reflect a new attendance incentive in the form of academic “catch-up” days.
Academic catch-up days are scheduled Oct. 10, Dec. 12 and March 6, with dates subject to change.
During academic catch-up days, eligible students are not required to attend school. Eligible students must have grades of 70 percent or higher in all classes, no unexcused absences and a clean discipline record.
Students who are not eligible must attend school.
Catch-up days will basically be designed to let students catch up on schoolwork and receive extra tutoring or additional lab time.
The new incentive comes after both high schools decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to opt out of final exams based on attendance.
The reasoning behind the change is that students would be better served taking final exams in preparation for college.
Flathead seniors in their seventh or eighth semesters will still be able to opt out of finals if they earn a 90 percent, or above, semester average in classes.
Flathead Principal Peter Fusaro said the goal is to motivate seniors to finish out their final months of high school strongly and avoid the “senior slide.”
“We hope to keep them focused,” Fusaro said. “The biggest thing is that we’re trying to get them college- and career-ready.”
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected]
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