Nov. 9, 2007
Q: I want to know if our children are getting enough classroom hours of instruction as possible. It seems like they have too many off-days. Does the school make up for lost days due to typhoons and such? Extra homework is no substitute for actual classroom instruction. Students are off at 2 p.m. Is there not enough time for teachers’ work on regular school days to allocate for extra work days? Teachers have the longest breaks in a year…spring, Christmas and summer. Why must in-service/ training days be taken-off from regular school days?

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A: DoDDS schools are accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI.) NCA is the largest of the five regional accreditation agencies. The standard established by NCA CASI for our schools is an instructional year of 175 days consisting of at least five, 5.5, or 6 hours daily of instruction respectively for elementary, middle, and high schools. The DoDDS school year provides for 183 days of instruction, or 875, 962.5, or 1,050 hours. In general, the length of the school day in DoDDS schools exceeds accreditation requirements. Our main base Yokosuka schools start school between 7:15 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and end between 2 p.m. and 2:20 p.m., exceeding the required time. Our early start and release times are driven by transportation considerations. Information from the National Center for Education Statistics enables comparison of the length of the instructional school year among states. There is considerable variability in the length of the school year among states. Most states have established 175 to 180 days of instruction. Only Kansas (186) and Texas (187) require more instructional days than DoDDS. We would only consider making up days lost to inclement weather if we went below 175 days. The training and in-service days are duty days for teachers; this professional development time is necessary for us to continue to analyze, assess, and improve instruction in order to impact student achievement. When teachers are off during the summer, it is in a non-pay status. At the beginning of a new school year, they usually return for three days prior to students returning to school in order to participate in professional development and to get set up for the new school year. Additionally, teachers are in a non-pay status during Christmas and Spring Break and during the summer holidays.

Not sure if anyone will see this thread, but what are the chances of being hired on as a teacher at the DoD school on Yokosuka base? I checked the DoD website but they are only hiring for extras, like library tech, classroom aides, etc. We are potentially moving there early next year & I'm interested in maybe teaching. I've got a masters in teaching and great experience...is there only 1 teacher per grade? Is there big turnover for teachers?

I'd love any info or contacts.

Thanks so much.

Check www.dodea.edu.
DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) is who hires the teachers.  I'm not sure what the process is for being picked up as a local hire but if that is what you want you could check with each school once you are here. 

Some of the schools are huge.  Sullivans Elementary has 1000+ students.  I've seen as many as 10 classes in some grades.  I'm not sure about the middle or high schools.  Ikego Elementary and Negishi Elementary schools also service the Yokosuka community at the housing areas.  I know there are some teachers on Japanbases.com that might be able to help out more.

Good luck.