You Ask, Bellevue Patch Answers: Why Do Bellevue School District Students Go Home Early on Wednesdays?

Since 2001, all students in the Bellevue School District have had early release each Wednesday.

When the students go home, what do the teachers do?

As it turns out, the extra hours count for quite a bit.

The move followed a well-received proposal to give teachers professional development time in their own buildings as well as the opportunity to work with other teachers across the district, said the Bellevue School District's communication office.

On some Wednesdays, teachers and staff attend district-wide trainings and meetings or meet with teams of educators in their subject field, while other Wednesdays are reserved for teachers to do classroom planning or to meet with parents.

The communications office says the plan received wide community support, and now is built into the teachers' contracts.