More than four out of five School District of Lancaster staff and family members say their experience during Thursday’s Flexible Instructional Day was “excellent” or “good.”
The district received nearly 1,000 responses to a survey on the day, which it used in place of an in-person day on Feb. 6 due to sleet and freezing rain that morning.
Flexible Instructional Days, or FIDs, may be used in place of a school day canceled because of inclement weather or another emergency. The PA Department of Education authorized the School District of Lancaster to use up to five FIDs per academic year. Students are expected to attend daily, participate in classwork, and submit assignments.
Among families, 80% said they felt adequately prepared for the FID, receiving clear instructions from teachers and access to necessary materials. While most said they faced no major challenges, some said they had internet or technology issues.
“Calling a FID is not something we intend to do every time we have inclement weather, but it is important to do it effectively,” said superintendent Dr. Keith Miles. “It is one of our options, along with delays and closings, and it helps us avoid too many make-up days at the end of the year.”
Among staff, 82% said they that adequate support and resources to implement the FID effectively.
Among the open-ended responses, families listed the flexibility of the day, support from teachers, and the safety of avoiding travel in dangerous weather conditions as positives for the day. Areas for improvement included concerns about time their children spent on screens and the need for some working parents to assist younger students with assignments.
Staff generally felt students were present and engaged in productive instructional time and appreciated working from home while student learning continued. Their suggestions for improvement included equity and accessibility issues.