Changes ahead for EPISD class times, calendar

More students are heading back to school in the coming weeks, including the El Paso Independent School District.

This year there are changes to the school year calendar and the amount of time students will be in the classroom.

EPISD begins the school year Monday, August 21, a week earlier than last year.

EPISD is designated a District of Innovation, the first in the city. With the designation, EPISD can change the calendar year.

“Teachers were saying that the Fall semester was really short and there was a lot of material to pack in, compared the the Spring (semester),” Melissa Martinez said, spokeswoman for EPISD.

An earlier start to the year means the district will end the year sooner. The last day of class will be June 1, instead of the second week of June.

Instructional time in the class will also see a minor change.

The start of the school will remain the same, but the day will be longer, EPISD adding extra minutes to class time.

Martinez said the state requires the district to have a certain amount of instructional time for a certain amount of minutes every year.

In the event there is a snow day or if a school has to close for whatever reason, EPISD then has time to make up that day with the extra minutes it has banked.

Martinez said the extra time is beneficial for teachers and students.

“It’s more time for teachers to have that they can use to extend a period or even extend recess, which parents believe is important to them,” Martinez said.

Here is the class schedule for all campuses at EPISD:

Elementary schools, 8:15 a.m. to 3: 25 p.m.
Middle schools, 7:50 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
High Schools, 8:45 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.