SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Independent School District students began their school year Monday morning.
SAISD is one of three districts electing to start early this year.
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The state has designated the district "a district of innovation", a new amendment to the Texas Education code which allows schools some lenience on issues such as school start date.
SAISD spokeswoman Leslie Price said starting early allows kids to take end of semester tests before their winter break.
"It's really what we think is an advantage, getting the kids back on in, getting started early, they now get to end the semester and take their tests before the two week winter break."
As the school year begins, two of SAISD's member schools offer unique programs to its students.
SAISD's Mark Twain Middle School offers a dual language program -- one that allows students to earn college credits before high school.
Mark Twain Middle School is welcoming their students with some good vibes #backtoschool pic.twitter.com/4y414aFcoq
— KSAT Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) August 14, 2017
Twain Academy opens as a 100% dual-language campus where all students will have the opportunity to become fluent in both English and Spanish. The academy starts this year with Pre-K to 2nd grade, and expanding a grade each year until ultimately becoming an 8th grade academy.
Happy first day of school SAISD students! Mark Twain Middle School's dual language program -students earn college credits before high school pic.twitter.com/apM6xYn20d
— KSAT Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) August 14, 2017
Cast Tech, one of the newest facilities in the district, offers a high school program aiming to teach cyber-related specialties (coding, cyber security, etc.) to its students.
The new Cast Tech facility is modeled after a Google workspace, each classroom is unique with different work areas and even color schemes.
Cast Tech set to open at 8:30am, a high school program aiming to teach cyber-related specialties (coding, cyber security, etc) to students pic.twitter.com/cGpe1hgkiS
— KSAT Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) August 14, 2017
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