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Proposed Modifications to the Current High School Day in the Fayette County School System

Proposed Modifications to the Current High School Day in the Fayette County School System. Fall 2011. History of the 6-Period Day in Fayette County.

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Proposed Modifications to the Current High School Day in the Fayette County School System

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  1. Proposed Modifications to theCurrent High School Day in the Fayette County School System Fall 2011

  2. History of the 6-Period Day in Fayette County • For at least the last 26 years, Fayette County high schools have maintained a 6 period school day though the graduation requirements have increased. • Chance to earn 24 credits over 4 years • 1984-1992: 13 academic units required by the state 8 optional local requirements=21 minimum • 1993-2003: 17 academic units required by the state 5 optional local requirements=21 minimum • 2004-2007: 18 academic units required by the state 4 optional local requirements=22 minimum • 2008 and beyond: 23 units required by the state no local requirements=23 minimum

  3. Current Graduation Requirements • 4 units of Mathematics • 4 units of Science • 4 units of English • 3 units of Social Studies • 1 unit of Health/Personal Fitness • 7 units of electives over 4 years • Many of these are taken by Math Support, Reading Enrichment, Study Skills, etc.

  4. High School Graduation Requirements and Board of Regents Requirements • They do not align with each other • No foreign language requirement for HS graduation • Georgia Board of Regents requires 2 years of same foreign language (taking 2 electives slots) • Many colleges outside of Georgia require 3-4 years of the same foreign language (taking 3-4 elective slots)

  5. Impact on Struggling Learners • Students who need to take Math Support, Reading Enrichment and/or Study Skills often do not get to take any electives of their choosing • The students with the most academic struggles spend their entire day in academic classes • When credit recovery is needed, these students often choose options outside of the school day in order to remain on track for graduation (Online courses are not approved by NCAA)

  6. Impact on Accelerated Learners • Students often have to choose between fine arts and language classes in order to meet Board of Regents requirements • Increased emphasis on Advanced Placement classes further affects student choices in electives • Many accelerated students would also like to participate in a fine arts ensemble for 4 years • Students wanting to major in a technical field in college often cannot schedule our technical CTAE courses because of Board of Regents and Advanced Placement needs

  7. Fayette County Graduates Compete for College Admission and Scholarships • Our students (with 24 credits) compete with other students earning 28-32 credits over 4 years • Students in other systems get to: • Take more Advanced Placement courses • Remain in Fine Arts classes all 4 years • Enroll in more diversified electives • Technical CTAE Classes • Academic Electives • SAT/ACT Prep • Fine Arts

  8. A New Schedule is Needed That Will… • Allow Fayette students to remain competitive for college admission and scholarship money • Allow students to take advanced electives while remaining in 4 years of fine arts, foreign language, or CTAE classes • Allow students to meet Board of Regents Requirements while also giving them the opportunity to take more advanced and diversified electives

  9. A New Schedule is Needed That Will… • Allow schools to offer instructional focus opportunities for students needing RTI Intervention • Allow schools to offer in-house credit recovery opportunities that fulfill NCAA requirements • Allow students who need math support, reading enrichment, and study skills the opportunity to take at least one class of their choosing during the school day

  10. What has happened so far? • Fall 2010: Committee was convened • Researched options • February 2011: Presentation to Board of Education on limitations of 6 period day • BOE approved committee to move forward • Committee narrowed options • Subcommittees researched deeper • July 2011: Options presented to Board of Education • Fall 2011: Options presented to stakeholders for input

  11. High School Day Committee The committee was comprised of members from all five Fayette County high schools and included: • 4 Students • 4 Teachers • 2 Counselors • 4 County office coordinators • 6 School level administrators

  12. Three Options to Consider After much research and deliberation, the committee narrowed schedule choices to: • 3x5 Trimester Schedule • 7 Period Day • 7 Period Day with Hybrid Option

  13. What is a trimester schedule? • Divides the school year into three parts • Students take 5 classes each trimester • Teachers teach 4 out of 5 classes per trimester • Each class meets 12 weeks earning .5 credit • Classes are 75 minutes long; 70 minutes with Instructional Focus • Students can earn 30 units of credit in 4 years • Some AP classes and band, chorus, and orchestra could meet all year

  14. Example of a trimester schedule9th Grade Student

  15. Sample Trimester Bell Schedule 1st Period 8:40 – 9:55 (75 Min) 2nd Period 9:59 – 11:14 (75 Min) 3rd Period 11:18 – 1:02 (74 Min plus 30 min lunch) A lunch 11:24 – 11:54 B lunch 11:58– 12:28 C lunch 12:32 – 1:02 4th Period 1:06 – 2:21 (75 Min) 5th Period 2:25 – 3:40 (75 Min) *Bell schedule times are included as a sample only. Actual times could vary slightly.

  16. Advantages • Students may take more courses in a year • Students may take a greater variety of classes • Fewer courses per term for both students and teachers • More time per day for students to devote to a subject • Students may be more willing to take a challenging 12 week course more than an 18 week one • If a student fails a class, immediate credit recovery options available • Fewer class disruptions in the halls because of fewer class changes

  17. Advantages • Teachers could have fewer preparations each trimester • Teachers gain additional planning time because of longer classes • Opportunity to create new courses • Longer class periods provide an opportunity for use of a greater variety of instructional strategies • AP classes actually given more time per day • Natural change of trimesters both seasonally and athletically • No cost to system to implement

  18. Disadvantages • Greatest change from the current system • Teachers may have more preparations throughout the year. Teachers would teach 12 sections in a year as opposed to the current 10 • Teaching strategies may not change to fit the longer period. Staff development would be needed • Challenges exist in deciding which courses to offer which trimester and how many trimesters to offer them • Gap time may be a concern. However, research says that retention is not an issue • A student’s schedule would change each trimester, so continuity with the same teacher would not be possible

  19. What is a 7 Period Day? • Divides the school year into 2 semesters • Students take 7 classes each semester • Core teachers teach 5/7; elective teachers teach 6/7 with no duty • Each class meets for 18 weeks earning .5 credit • Classes are 50 minutes each • Students can earn 28 credits in 4 years • Most classes meet year long

  20. Example of a 7 Period Schedule9th Grade Student

  21. Sample 7 Period DayBell Schedule 1st 8:25 - 9:17 2nd 9:23 - 10:13 3rd 10:19 - 11:09 4th 11:15 - 12:50 (would include 3 lunches) 5th 12:56 - 1:46 6th 1:52 - 2:42 7th 2:48 - 3:40 *Bell schedule times are included as a sample only. Actual times could vary slightly.

  22. Advantages • Easiest model to transition to from a six period day • Instructional focus can be embedded into the school day • No cost to system to implement • Additional academic electives could be offered • Students have daily contact with a teacher • Classes of equal length are easier for teachers to plan • No loss of retention during “gap” times • No additional staff development needed to transition to 7 period day

  23. Advantages • Increases the total amount of instruction that a student receives in one day • Could support common departmental planning to allow for common unit and assessment planning • Middle schools in Fayette County are already on a 7 period day so transition would be easy • More space in the schedule to allow for teacher-provided credit recovery fulfilling NCAA requirements • Many students already taking 7 classes at our high schools due to zero period offerings • Would make additional offerings available to all (not just those who can provide their own transportation)

  24. Disadvantages • Would require an additional extension to the school day (approximately 10-15 minutes) • Could overwhelm some students who struggle with 6 classes • Instructional time per period may be reduced • One additional transition in the day could mean additional discipline referrals

  25. What is a 7 Period Hybrid Schedule? • Divides the school year into 2 semesters • Students take 7 classes each semester • Core teachers teach 5/7 plus Instructional Focus; elective teachers teach 6/7 with no Instructional Focus • Each class meets for 18 weeks earning .5 credit • All 7 classes are 50 minutes each, 3 days a week • Periods 1, 3, 5, and 7 meet for 90 minutes each one day a week; periods 2, 4, 6, and Instructional Focus meet another day per week for 90 minutes each • Students can earn 28 credits in 4 years • Most classes meet year long

  26. Sample 7 Period Hybrid Schedule9th Grade Student

  27. Sample 7 Period Bell ScheduleMonday, Tuesday, & Friday 1st 8:25 - 9:17 2nd 9:23 - 10:13 3rd 10:19 - 11:09 4th 11:15 - 12:50 (would include 3 lunches) 5th 12:56 - 1:46 6th 1:52 - 2:42 7th 2:48 - 3:40 *Bell schedule times are included as a sample only. Actual times could vary slightly.

  28. Sample 7 Period Bell ScheduleWednesday & Thursday 2nd/1st 8:25 - 10:02 4th/3rd  10:08 - 11:43 6th/5th  11:49 - 1:57 (3 lunches)   IF/7th  2:03 - 3:40 *Bell schedule times are included as a sample only. Actual times could vary slightly.

  29. Advantages • Allows students additional classes to meet increasing state graduation requirements • Students could earn 28 credits • Would allow the Instructional Focus Period to stay in place • Offers flexibility in scheduling • Allows the student to be in a class longer • Can enable students to catch up through credit recovery • Allows more time for lab courses one day a week

  30. Advantages • Teachers would have longer planning opportunities • Students would have more opportunities to sign up for electives • No need for more teachers • No cost to the system to implement

  31. Disadvantages • Would require an additional extension to the school day (10-15 minutes) • Could overwhelm some students who struggle with 6 classes • Instructional time per period may be reduced • One additional transition in the day could mean additional discipline referrals • Staff development would be needed for teaching the 90-minute block two days a week • Schedule would not be the same each day

  32. Side By Side Comparison

  33. Implementation Time Line • The following timeline will be implemented… • August/September 2011: PowerPoint presented by committee to faculties of all 5 high schools • Late August-Early September 2011: PowerPoint posted on FCBOE website • Late August-Early September 2011: Feedback solicited from all stakeholders via Infinite Campus survey • October 2011: Committee reviews feedback with additional research • October 2011: Recommendation made by committee/Superintendent to the Board of Education for approval • Fall 2012: Proposed implementation of new schedule at all high schools

  34. Input Needed! • Please respond to the High School Day Survey posted on the FCBOE Web Site: • Go to http://www.fcboe.org and follow the link on the front page to the surveys • Complete the anonymous survey • Respond by September 15, 2011 Thank you for your input!

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