Proposed High School Bell Schedule for 2013-2014

1. Proposed High School Bell Schedule for 2013-2014 Board Presentation October 29, 2012 Tuscaloosa County Schools

2. Tonight’s Presentation

3. The Schedule

4. Eight-Period Schedule Proposed High School Schedule • 8 credits each year • Each period = 45 to 48 minutes in length • Total of 360 to 384 minutes per day

5. Sample bell schedule - BWHS

6. Sample bell schedule - HHS

7. Sample bell schedule - HCHS

8. Sample Student 4-year path

9. Sample Student 4-year path(with AP Classes)

10. Sample freshman Schedule

11. The Process

12. Previous scheduling discussions • Series of meetings from March 2010 to October 2012 reviewed research and discussed scheduling options for high schools. • Discussions included instructional concerns, elective offerings, the diversity of school demographics, and options for serving student needs. • January 2011 - High School Curriculum Committee and Block Scheduling Committee recommended modification of 4x4 block for 2011-2012 to allow flexibility to modify master schedules to meet the specific instructional needs of schools and students and to promote innovative practices.

13. Previous modifications to schedules • 2011-2012 HS schedule modifications: • HCHS and TCHS split blocks to offer AP courses throughout the academic year • NSHS, SVHS, and HHS modified schedules to accommodate/provide opportunities for enrichment and remediation; added bonus period • 2012-2013 HS schedule modifications: • BWHS created Ninth Grade Academy with two-semester courses • All high schools offering two-semester math courses for freshmen, some with English also • HHS offering two-semester core courses

14. Recent actions • March 2012: BOE directive to move completely from 4x4 Block • New bell schedule committee met summer/fall 2012 to prepare recommendation • Researched a variety of schedules from across the U.S. • Consulted with other systems that had changed schedules • Brainstormed benefits, challenges, and next steps • Came to a consensus on recommendation

15. Timeline to this point • March 2010 – Block Schedule Committee • Nov. 29, 2010 – HS Curriculum and Block Scheduling Committee • Dec. 8, 2010 – Block Scheduling Committee • December 13, 2010 – HS Curriculum Committee • January 5, 2011 – HS Curriculum Committee • January 31, 2011 - BOE Meeting • February 14, 2011 – BOE Meeting • October 27, 2011 – HS Curriculum Committee • November 2, 2011 - HS and MS Curriculum Committee • November 15, 2011 – HS Curriculum Committee • March 5, 2012 – BOE Meeting – Directive from BOE to Change Bell Schedules • June 13, 2012 – HS Curriculum Committee • July 26, 2012 – Bell Schedule Committee • August 2, 2012 – Bell Schedule Committee • Sept. 6, 2012 – HS Principals’ Meeting • Sept. 24, 2012 – Bell Schedule Committee • Oct. 3, 2012 – Bell Schedule Committee • Oct. 17, 2012 – HS Principal’s Meeting • Oct. 29, 2012 – BOE Meeting

16. Timeline for implementation • October 29, 2012 – BOE Action • November 2012 – Implementation Planning • December 2012 – Action Plan Created for Implementation • January 2013 – Begin Professional Development for Faculty and Staff • February 2013 – Orientation for Students; Registration for 2013-2014 • March/April 2013 – Master Schedule Development • June 2013 – Complete Initial Professional Development for Faculty and Staff • June/July 2013 – Summer School for TCSS Students Who will Need Courses Unavailable with New Schedule • July/August 2013 – Schedule Pick Up for HS • August 2013 – New Schedule Begins • October 2013 – Evaluation of Implementation; discussion of needs for 2014-2015

17. The Rationale

18. Reasons for eight-period day recommendation • Flexibility of two-semester courses for core, one semester courses for electives, and hybrid periods for labs, TCT, and other extended courses • Time for job-embedded collaboration • No major changes needed in credit requirements for graduation • Recommendations from National Science and Math Foundation and Alabama Commission on Higher Learning

19. The Next Steps

20. Changes necessary for the delivery of curriculum • New pacing guides for all courses • New IEP goals and development • Alteration of delivery of special education services • Alteration of science lab lesson design • Modification of AMSTI/SIM lessons • Addition of Credit Acceleration • Addition of Summer School • Delivery of ACCESS courses to other schools • Differentiation of needs for various courses • Increased flexibility of delivery of credit recovery

21. Course catalogue/graduation requirements changes • Credits for courses (half and full) • Number of credits and types for promotion • Math sequencing • Removal of mid-year graduation option

22. Professional development needs • Time management and planning for teachers moving to shorter period of delivery • Training in Differentiated Instruction • Training to help students adapt from 4 to 8 periods per day • Training on Common Core Curriculum and its implementation within the 8-period day • Training on formative assessment piece (Global Scholar) • Training on new state assessments in regards to preparing for 8-period day • Training on Increased Use of Technology in the Classroom • Training on use of Intranet Toolbox

23. Estimated implementation Expenses

24. Challenges • Reduction of credit recovery opportunities during school year • Loss of December graduation option • Coordination of MS and HS lunch schedules at SVMS/SVHS • Extension of the school day but decreased instructional hours for some high schools (384 to 360 minutes) • Purchase of more textbooks for class sets • Increased use of technology for delivery of instruction • Making sure rising juniors and seniors have opportunities to earn needed credits and take desired courses during transition

25. Providing for increased use of paper and copiers as a result of reduction of textbooks • Funding summer school program • Reduction of service hours for SPE students (not enough inclusion SPE teachers to meet student needs with more classes per day) • Development of credit advancement program and policy • Planning and implementing new schedule concurrent with implementation of College and Career Readiness, Quality Core (end of course tests), new accountability requirements, Global Scholar (formative assessment)

26. Student Schedule challenge

27. Immediate steps • Creating Action Plan for Implementation • Changing spring schedules of current juniors, when possible, to ensure availability of courses needed for graduation • Determining how to flex course schedules for 2013-14 rising juniors and seniors, when necessary, to allow completion of graduation requirements • Scheduling of PD for teachers throughout the spring, beginning in January • Scheduling Summer School for students for TCSS students who will need courses unavailable with new schedule

28. High School Bell Schedule Committee members • Laura McBride – Principal, BWHS • John Hooper – Fine Arts/Athletics, BWHS • Leah Armstrong – English, HCHS • LaTonya Jemison – Counselor, HCHS • LaDonna Beck – Career Tech, HHS • Isreal Eady – Social Studies, HHS • Milton Powell – Band, NSHS • Emily Woodroof – Counselor, NSHS • Deborah Cameron – Math, SVHS • Diana Yessick – Science, SVHS • Tracy Clark – Science/Athletic Director, TCHS • Cynthia Simpson – Assistant Principal, TCHS • Mark Nelson – Chair of Board Curriculum Committee • Dan Butler – Superintendent • Walter Davie – Deputy Superintendent • Amanda Cassity – Director of Secondary Instruction • Ruth Graves – Director of Special Education

29. At large members • Dennis Alvarez, SVHS • Reba Caldwell, TCHS • Neal Guy, HHS • Allison Mays, HCHS • David Patrick, NSHS • Gwen Harper, Coordinator of Accountability • Cheryl Wallace, Coordinator of Assessment • Diane Jones, BWHS • Steven Yager, SVHS • Julia Fox, TCHS • Lindsey Thompson, TCHS