Many Jackson-Reed seniors will be without free periods next year due to a newly enforced DCPS policy, sources told The Beacon. Juniors said they feel upset about their loss of free time, and staff are discussing how to move forward.
“I won’t have enough time to get work done [or] my college apps in,” said junior Maya Goldman. “I’m terrified, absolutely terrified.”
Free periods have been a tradition at JR for years, given to seniors who meet or exceed the 24-credit graduation requirement. Currently, most seniors have from one to four free periods each semester. “I usually go to Tenleytown with my friends to talk, do homework, or study,” said senior Serena Lo Scalzo.
Now, free periods will only be available for students who have documentation showing that they have a job, internship, or dual enrollment during the school day.
A DCPS spokesperson told The Beacon that the District “is committed to ensuring that students receive a full day of on-campus instruction.”
“In accordance with the DC Municipal Regulations, the District has had a long-standing policy in which students over the age of 17 are granted off-campus privileges when authorized by a caretaker for an approved job or internship experience,” the statement said.
Principal Sah Brown echoed the statement. “DCPS has an established policy for off-campus opportunities that supports students in their post-secondary endeavors during the school day,” he said.
Staff members told The Beacon that they are aware of the policy, but are still unclear on details. “I’ve heard that the DCPS central office is changing the policy,” said English teacher Caroline Szakats. “I know that the school is trying to brainstorm how to make it work for next year.”
Many juniors said they believe that eliminating the current system of free periods would decrease student productivity and effort. “It’ll make students want to skip more,” said junior Jordyn McClusky. “I feel like it’s not fair because it’s a time when we should be preparing for college, and not having free periods defeats that purpose.”
Other juniors agreed, saying that students would just fill their schedules with classes that they found easy. “Seniors won’t want to do the work,” said junior Etan Zerwitz.
A change in free periods is not the only policy that could impact JR students’ privileges at school. Last month, DC councilmember Brooke Pinto introduced a bill that would prohibit public and charter school students from using phones or smart watches during the school day. The bill is titled, “Heads Up! Distraction-Free Learning Amendment Act of 2025.”
“We must remain focused on supporting a learning environment in all of our schools that will help our students learn, play, engage, and thrive,” Pinto said in a statement. “Removing distracting devices during the school day will better equip our students to focus, empower our teachers to teach, and ensure that our kids are engaging with one another in person which will benefit them and their outcomes for years to come.”
The statement said that a Washington Teachers’ Union survey found that more than 80 percent of teachers oppose cell phone use in schools. The bill would require schools to provide storage for phones during the day, and there would be exceptions for students with IEPs or disabilities, and in case of an emergency.
