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Parents of Stafford and Colonial Forge high school students weigh in on block scheduling plan Date published: 2/19/2009
BY JEFF BRANSCOME
Colonial Forge and Stafford high school parents were receptive last night to a proposal to expand classes from 50 minutes to 90 minutes as early as next academic year. Both schools hosted informational meetings about a possible switch from traditional to block scheduling. The day wouldn't get longer, but the schedules would change. Administrators say the plan will lower class sizes in a year when the division can't afford to hire more teachers. The Free Lance-Star attended the meeting at Stafford High, at which about 50 parents showed up. Deputy Superintendent Andre Nougaret said about 75 attended the forum at Colonial Forge. "I think the parents want to get behind it at this point," Nougaret said in a telephone interview. The School Board will weigh in on the proposal at its meeting Tuesday after administrators present a report on block scheduling. Stafford High and Colonial Forge would join most other high schools in the region if they adopt block scheduling. However, it's carried out differently at many schools. Stafford and Colonial Forge are considering what's called "AB" block scheduling. Students would take eight courses a year, with classes meeting for 90 minutes every other day. Students would take four classes during an "A" day and four during a "B" day. Currently, students at those schools take seven 50-minute classes a day. Instructors now teach five classes a year. They would teach six annually under the "AB" format, which is why administrators think it would reduce student-teacher ratios. Stafford High School Principal Joseph Lewis outlined what he called the benefits of block scheduling at last night's meeting. The longer classes, he said, will give teachers more time to get to know students. Other positives, he said, include less time in hallways and the ability to earn more credits. Don Jones said his grandson had block scheduling in Maryland before moving to Stafford High. The teen, now a junior, prefers Stafford High's current format, he said. "He figured that 90 minutes was too long to be in one class, especially if it was a subject he didn't like," Jones said. One parent said his daughter supports the possible schedule change because it would enable her to take two fine arts classes. "She is really excited about it," he said. Mountain View, North Stafford and Brooke Point high schools have used a different form of block scheduling since the 2005-06 academic year. Their "four-by-four" schedule has students take the same four 90-minute classes each day for one semester. They then take four different courses the next semester. Some classes at those schools, including fine arts and advanced placement, run yearlong. Fredericksburg's James Monroe High School started a similar "four-by-four" schedule this academic year. High schools in Prince William, Spotsylvania, King George, Culpeper and Fauquier counties also use block scheduling. Caroline High School uses a traditional seven-period format. Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
We've had a huge problem at Mountain View this year where my daughter is in 10th grade, with her teachers not keeping on pace with the block scheduling. If they teacher isn't good or on the ball then the class will fall behind. My daughter encountered numerous benchmark tests where quite a few questions were about topics they had yet to cover in Earth Science. North Stafford has a pacing plan, I hope the other schools adopt one too.
My daughter is at Mountain View where they have the 4x4 schedule. The problem with it is she could possibly go a year without math or the next level of language. She actually is taking both level 2 and 3 of French this year, which the couselor said that colleges don't like because they would rather see a language continued through at least 11th grade.
I would be happier if Mountain View changed to the A/B format.
Block scheduling as it is currently deifned has been used in Va since 1991 when it became the schedule of choice at Atlee H.S. If you check the HS in Va you will find that over 90% of HS use a form of block. You will also find that schools using block have higher SOL test scores regardless of how you break it down by demographics or geographically. Several research supports longer blocks of time for teaching and learning.
It's time for Stafford to stop trying to please everybody and just do what's in the best interest of students. As a teacher in a local school system that uses A/B block, I was less than enthusiastic about it when we started; like everything else, it has its learning curve. Now I would not want to go back to the 7-period day. I teach more efficiently and thoughtfully now than before, and when students have plenty of active learning to do, 90 minutes flies by. My own children appreciated A/B block benefits.
You can find the schedule of meetings on the CF website. Also on the website are more details of the block scheduling plan.
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