Update: Block Scheduling

Positive Impact

Since the implementation of the Block scheduling in September 2012 to the present, November 2013, both high schools have reported an overall increase in staff and student attendance which has resulted in more effective teaching and learning.

Attendance Rate Comparison Attendance rates have increased resulting in improved academics.

2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013

Grade % Actual Days Attended

Level

9 91.85%

10 92.20%

11 89.20%

12 85.60%

Grand Total 89.71%

Grade % Actual Days Attended

Level

9 96.70%

10 96.40%

11 96.35%

12 95.30%

Grand Total 96.19%

School Environment

Students now have the opportunity to access their cell phones and iPods during the 52 minute Unit Lunch and Advisory/Tutorial Blocks. We have created a student friendly environment for socialization, the facilitation of focus groups, opportunities for extra help and make-up work and more time to become involved in co-curricular activities. There is a direct correlation with student engagement and positive behavior.

Suspension Rate Comparison

Month 2011-12 2012-13

September 31 13

October 48 48

November 49 17

December 41 27

January 44 44

February 68 42

March 51 27

April 31 51

May 32 53

June 6 21

Totals: 401 343

Since the implementation of the block schedule, there has been a decline in the number of discipline problems reported at both high schools.

Decrease of 15%

EVVRS

Series10

50

100

150

200

250

2011-12 2012-13

Decrease of 40%

Survey Feedback

Based on the feedback from staff and student surveys and our monthly School Improvement Committee Meetings (Principal’s Advisory Committee Meetings), we made some modifications to the schedule in 2013-2014.

Updates of Block Scheduling at HS North

Grades 10 and 12 are assigned to the first lunch, and Grades 9 and 11 have the second lunch. This change evenly distributes the number of students having lunch during Blocks 3 and 4.

There is a new food service, Aramark which provides our students with hot and cold lunches in two eating venues in our schools.

 

Grades 9, 10 and 11 are assigned to Transition Rooms. Attendance is taken by the A/B Day Transition teachers. Any student may be excused from Transition with a pass to a designated location. Each grade level has a color-coded pass, signed by the Transition teacher and the staff member, coach or club advisor supervising the intended location.

“Season passes” are issued to students excused from Transition: for example, A Capella Choir, Weight Room, Student Government and Yearbook.

Updates of Block Scheduling at HS NorthContinued

AP Laboratory Sciences have been scheduled in Blocks 2 or 5, providing 26 extra minutes of advisory before the AP class or 26 minutes of advisory after the AP class.

 

A 52 minute Lunch Detention replaces the After School Office Detention.

 

Guidance Counselors and SACs use Blocks 3 or 4 for student forums. Monthly assembly programs for each grade level are also scheduled during Blocks 3 and 4.

 

Students have more opportunities to participate in both co-curricular activities and sports, as meetings are held during the Advisory Block.

Advanced Placement

• Addition of AP Italian & AP Probability and Statistics

• Students have been named to the AP Honor Roll by College Board 3 out of the last 4 years

• 382 students took a total of 899 AP examinations

• AP Scholar 44• AP Scholar with Honors 35• AP Scholar with Distinction 35• National AP Scholar 10

New Advanced Placement Classes

For the 2014-2015 school year, there are plans to offer three more Advanced Placement courses: • AP World History• AP Human Geography • AP US Government and Politics

Second Year of ImplementationThe first year of Block scheduling required teachers to make adjustments to the planning and pacing of their courses from 48 minutes to 80 minutes of instruction. Many teachers have websites with their instructional materials, study guides and resources readily available to their students. They have created unit plans and interdisciplinary activities to reinforce the concepts presented in their classes. This year the teachers collaborated with their North/South counterparts to develop quarterly assessments to measure student proficiency of the material presented in each of the four marking periods. There were opportunities for staff Professional Development in September, October, November and during our monthly Professional Learning Communities.

Benefits of Block Scheduling

• Alumni from the Class of 2013 who are attending local and out of state schools have informed us that they are confident and comfortable in their college courses this year, as a result of having experienced longer instructional blocks and an alternating schedule of classes.

• Within our 80 minute Blocks, we provide our students

with technological supports to enhance instruction, varied learning activities to engage all levels of students and opportunities for academic and social growth and improvement across all grade levels.