making every minute count: an introduction to the school time analysis tool (stat)
DESCRIPTION
Making Every Minute Count: An Introduction to the School Time Analysis Tool (STAT). Prepared for the Virginia Department of Education November 25, 2013. Our Webinar Today is Sponsored by NCTL Partner The Center on School Turnaround at WestED. Creating Pro-Turnaround Environment - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Making Every Minute Count: An Introduction to the School Time Analysis Tool (STAT)
Prepared for the Virginia Department of EducationNovember 25, 2013
Our Webinar Today is Sponsored by NCTL Partner The Center on School Turnaround at WestED
2
• Creating Pro-Turnaround Environment• Administering & Managing Programs
Effectively• Providing TA to LEAs & Schools
• Advocating & Leadinghttp://centeronschoolturnaround.org/
NCTL: Who Are We?
The National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL) is dedicated to expanding learning
time to improve student achievement and enable a well-rounded education.
Through research, public policy, and technical assistance we support national, state, and local initiatives that add significantly more school time to
help children meet the demands of the 21st century.
NCTL: Our Strategy
Improve School Practice: Through technical assistance, grow and strengthen the number of high-
quality expanded learning time schools nationally
Inform Policy: Support policy development and
leverage federal, state, and local funding to support high-
quality expanded learning time implementation
Generate Knowledge:Document and disseminate effective practices of high-
performing expanded learning time charter and district schools across the
country
Build Support: Build broad-based support to
bring high-quality expanded-time school
opportunities to all high-poverty students over time
4
Successful Districts and Schools Maximize Academic Learning Time
Source: Elena Silva, “On the Clock: Rethinking the Way Schools Use Time,” Education Sector Reports, 2007.
Academic Learning
Time
Academic Learning Time Time students gain and
retain subject knowledge
Instructional Time Time devoted to
instruction
Allocated Class Time Total time in class
Allocated School Time Total time in school
Allocated School Time
Allocated Class Time
Instructional Time
5
12
9
11
10
6
3
1
2
78
54
12
9
11
10
6
3
1
2
78
54
12
9
11
10
6
3
1
2
78
54
6
Optimize Time for Student Learning
Use Time to help Students Thrive in School and Beyond
Dedicate Time to Improve Teacher Effectiveness
Make Every Minute Count1
Prioritize Time to Focus on Small Set of School-wide Goals
2
Individualize Learning Time and Instruction based on Student Needs
3
4
5
6
Build a School Culture of High Expectations and Mutual Accountability
Provide a Well-Rounded Education
Prepare Students for College and Career
7
8
Continuously Strengthen Instruction
Relentlessly Analyze and Respond to Data
3
1
2
6 54
78
High-Performing Schools Focus on Eight Powerful Practices
6
Does Every Single Minute Count in Your Schools?
School-Wide Time AnalysisKey Question:
How do schedules help or hinder schools from reaching their most important school-wide goals?
Process: 1. Analyze school schedules to find out:
• How much time is allocated for highest priority subjects?• How much time is “taken” away from the highest priorities?
2. Determine what schedule changes support the schools’ highest priorities
7
Putting the STAT To Use
• To learn how time in your school is allocated across three broad categories: Academics, Specials/Electives, and Other.
• To help your school and educators consider modifications to policies and practices that will optimize learning time for your students.
Consider using this tool:
• Calculate the number of minutes in a week and hours in a whole school year that are spent on the three broad categories listed above.
• Assess whether changes are needed and what changes should be made regarding how time is used in your school so you can better reach your goals.
Use the data generated by this tool to:
8
0 min 1,950 min
Weekly Allocated School Time
Purposed Time Non- Purposed Time
Academics and Support
Non Core Academics Other Academics and
Support-English-Math-Science-Social Studies-Foreign Lang.-Tutoring-Remediation-Targeted Supp.-Other
-In class transitions-Misc. interruptions-P.A. announcements
-In class transitions-Misc. interruptions-P.A. announcements
Non Core Academics
-Phys. Ed.-Art-Music-Computers or Technology-Community Building-Advisory-Other
-Lunch/Recess-Homeroom-Transitions between classes-Study halls or Homework-Other
The STAT Provides Visibility Into How Schools Really Allocate Time
9
Minutes
How Does the STAT Work?
STEP 1: Enter students’ start and end times, days per week, and days per year
STEP 2: Break down how time is across a week for a “typical” student
It’s a 5-step web-based tool where users enter data, “Turbo Tax-style,” on how their school uses time:
STEP 3: Make estimates about lost instructional minutes within classes due to daily interruptions
STEP 4: Make estimates about lost instructional hours throughout the year due to special events
STEP 5: Let the tool do the math so you can see the results – a snapshot of how time is spent for a typical student across the day, week and year
10
STAT Login Screen
Access the STAT through this link: http://nctl.iontier.com/Login.aspx
11
Conducting a School Time Analysis
WHAT YOU NEED• Internet access• Student schedules• School calendar• Information on activities that
disrupt instructional time
WHO YOU NEEDRepresentative team of administrators, teachers, staff, and partners if applicable
HOW LONG IT WILL TAKEApproximately 1 to 1.5 hours to enter the data and review findings
FOLLOW-UP
• Share findings with other members of your team • Prioritize a few areas for
improvement and action steps• Discuss ways to share with entire
staff
12
Tips for Using the STAT
Pick a “typical” student to get started
Keep track of anything you classify as “other”
Don’t lose sight of the goal: to get a snapshot of time use and start the discussion on how time can be used
more effectively school-wide.
Check out the STAT User Guide for guidance, suggestions, and pitfalls to avoid!
13
Possible Uses of the STAT
Generate Ideas among Staff
Collect Time Use Data
Consider the amount of time your school spends across each of the three broad categories:
Academics and Support
Non Core Academics
Other
Help your school and educators consider modifications to policies
and practices that will optimize learning time for your students
Assess whether changes are needed and what changes should be made regarding
how time is used in your school so you can better reach your goals.
1420
11 N
ation
al C
ente
r on
Tim
e &
Lea
rnin
g
14
Smithfield Middle School KEY STAT FINDING: 36 minutes of each 6 hour day taken up by passing time, totaling 10% of daily allocated school time
Action Steps
1. Established school wide goal to reduce passing time by 50%
2. Reorganized students and teachers into 3 interdisciplinary clusters
3. Reconfigured classrooms by cluster
Before
6 Minutes
After
3 Minutes
Reduced passing time to 3 minutes, adding 1,800 minutes/year back into instruction
How Do Schools Use Information Uncovered by the STAT Analysis? (1 of 2)
Outcome
15
How Do Schools Use Information Uncovered by the STAT Analysis? (2 of 2)
Crawford Elementary School KEY STAT FINDING: Class before lunch lost 7 minutes each day so children can wash hands, totaling 21 hours of lost instruction each year.
Action Steps
1. Reversed lunch and recess periods so students wash hands after recess instead of during class time
Before After
2. Rotated subjects taught before recess and after lunch to lessen the impact of longer transition time on any one subject
Unexpected Benefit: Change allowed more students to finish their lunch because they weren’t rushing to recess
Outcome
16
STAT Findings & Action Steps: SamplePROCESS
A team of six people – three classroom teachers, an art teacher, our Assistant Principal, and a paraprofessional did the STAT for a sample 3rd grader.
KEY FINDINGS (2 to 3)1) We’re losing ~25 min/day because
of inefficient/inconsistent routines to move students around the building.
2) Social Studies is taught for less than 45 min/week for primary grades – insufficient, marginalized.
WHAT IMMEDIATE ACTION CAN WE TAKE TO ADDRESS THESE FINDINGS?
Our existing PBIS subcommittee will create school-wide procedures for hallway transitions and disseminate to staff by Dec 15. All staff will be trained on new procedures on Jan 3 PD day; roll-out to students 1st day back. Grade-level teams will set goals on reducing transition time, monitor progress on bulletin boards.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE PLAN FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR?
Consider increasing allocated time for Social Studies. Integrate more literacy instruction into SS – focus on non-fiction and informational text (Common Core).
17
• What are the key findings from the data? ‒ What is cause for celebration? ‒ What is cause for concern?
• Where did we find pockets – large and/or small - of lost instructional time? ‒ What small tweaks could we make right now to recapture some of
that time? ‒ What larger changes could we make to our schedule next year to
maximize learning time?
• What are the next steps for this work?‒ What goals and action steps can we develop around 1-2 of our key
findings?‒ How do we want to share the data, key findings, and suggested
action steps with the full faculty?
18
Guiding Questions for Your STAT Preparation Team
Senior Director – State and District Engagement Group
Vice President – State and District Engagement Group
19
To learn more about our work, visit us at:
www.timeandlearning.org
Join the Conversation:
Like us on Facebook Follow @expanding_time