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Proposed High School Bell Schedule for 2013-2014. Board Presentation October 29, 2012 Tuscaloosa County Schools. Tonight’s Presentation. The Schedule. Eight-Period Schedule. Proposed High School Schedule 8 credits each year Each period = 45 to 48 minutes in length
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Proposed High School Bell Schedule for 2013-2014 Board Presentation October 29, 2012 Tuscaloosa County Schools
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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