Q&A: Students, teachers in race to catch up

Advertiser Staff

What you need to know about the end of the Hawai'i teachers strike and the resumption of classes, with information provided by the Department of Education:

Q. When will teachers report to work?

A. All teachers should return to work today for one noninstructional day of preparation.

Q. When should students return to the classroom?

A. All Department of Education schools will reopen at their regular times tomorrow. Ni'ihau School, the only campus to continue operating through the strike, will be open again today for classes.

Q. What happens to graduation?

A. Graduation will be unaffected by the strike. Seniors will be able to graduate on time, and commencement exercises will be as scheduled. There will be no early exit for seniors, who are expected to attend classes all day until the school day before graduation.

Q. When will the free and reduced-cost lunch program resume?

A. Breakfast and lunch will be available tomorrow at all schools. Although the city offered free, hot lunches to students during the strike, they will not be available today.

Q. When will the After-School Plus (A+) program resume?

A. Tomorrow. A+ was closed at all sites, including those run by private providers, during the strike, but will reopen with the schools. Parents will be credited for the lost days they paid for in April, and the program fee will be reduced by an appropriate amount in May.

Q. Will the school calendar be changed to make up lost instruction time?

A. No. There will be no changes to the calendar and no added days of instruction.

Q. How will a strike affect student promotion and credits?

A. No later than five days after the strike ends, all students will be assessed and parents will be notified if their child is in danger of failing a course. On the basis of that assessment, teachers will plan an intensive course of instruction to help students attain objectives. At the end of the school year, teachers will determine whether elementary students should be promoted and whether secondary students have passed the course.

Q. What happens to sports tournaments or field trips scheduled for the end of the school year?

A. No Department of Education schools will participate in state sports tournaments. DOE officials say they are trying to maximize classroom time and that some sports tournaments could result in as many as four days away from class. Field trips are also likely to be canceled. Principals have been asked to give priority to instruction and assessments rather than to field trips and other activities. (For more details, see Sports, Section C, Page 1.)

Q. What happens to students from military families?

A. There will be no academic penalty for military students whose families will be moving in May and June. Their grades will be based on student work completed to date.

Q. What about professional development for teachers?

A. All teacher professional development and training sessions are suspended, except those involving legal obligations.