middle school program proposal 4-08-13

7/28/2019 Middle School Program Proposal 4-08-13

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Middle School SchedulingProgramming Proposal

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3/21

Tonight

Rationale for Program Change

The Process and Goal Development

The Proposal (with working definitions)

Sample Schedule

Primary Differences

Concerns and Benefits

Preparation for April 22 Work Session

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4/21

Process for Review & Revision

After receiving request to review, held local reviewlittle consensus; decided we needed another lens Asked Dr. Michael Rettig, School Scheduling Associates

for an audit (2011) Interviewed school personnel

Developed a report Three statements were noted by FCPS administration: structure of

intervention period needs attention; the district needs to decide onlevel of consistency..related to electives ; analysis of time for coreareas vs. elective classes

Began revision options & discussions with middleschool principals (principals shared ideas at their discretion with staff)

Developed goals

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5/21

Goals

Consistent instructional program (core, electives, and exploratory) among FCPS middleschools

Increased instructional time for core areas: language arts, mathematics, social studies,and science

Current core course length: 48 minutes Goal: core course length: at least 60-65

Thirteen more minutes a day will give students one hour+ more of instruction per week in the core areas.

The full range ofexploratory offerings provided for all students

Maintain studentteaming when possible, most important in 6th and 7th Foreign language exploration for all students prior to high school credit course

Extended time for high school foreign language instruction

Input Technologies (keyboarding) for every student

Ability for music students to take other electives

Ability to provide remediation/intervention at multiple points during the school day

Ability to offer approved "local choice" options for schools Reduction in the size of PE classes

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Process for Review & Revision(continued)

Developed a final concept proposal, presented

to principals in Jan.-Feb. 2013

February-March 2013: shared concept withcounselors; related arts teachers

Continued to refine the concept based on input

Provided preview to the board & continued to

take input

Presentation to Board, April 2013.

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7/21

The ConceptProposal

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8/21

Working Definitions

Core Period: time during which Language Arts, Math,Social Studies and Science are offered

Encore Period: time during which PE, Music, ForeignLanguage and Exploratory Wheel courses are offered

Exploratory Wheel: a series of required courses taken insix-week segments in 6th and 7th grade

Elective: a student-selected course, such as music andforeign language; in 8th: art, music, foreign language, orother CTE in 8th grade

Local Choice: a class offered on the exploratory wheelor as an elective developed and selected at the local schoollevel from a division-approved list. These choices are basedon staff availability and interest, as we do now.

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9/21

SIXTH GRADE

All 6th graders take Language Arts; Pre-Alg. : Course 1 orPre-Alg. : Course 2; US History II; and Science 6[60-66 minutes]

6th graders have two (2) "Encore" Periods[ 54-62 min.] Music students take music and PE on an alternating day schedule during

one of these periods

Non-music students take PE every day during one of these periods During the other period, all 6th graders (music and non-music) take

keyboarding, art, family and consumer science (FACS), Tech Ed, foreignlanguage exploration, and a "local choice" in six week rotations.

Local choice courses may be: intervention sessions, special education

resource sessions, fitness, agriculture, drama, STEM Exploration. Othersmay be possible. Year one of implementation will determine what can beoffered and approved.

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SEVENTH GRADE

All 7th graders take Language Arts 7; Pre-Alg: Course 2 orAlgebra 1*, Civics/Econ; Life Science 7 [60-66 minutes]

7th graders have two (2) "Encore" Periods [ 54-62 min.]

Music students take music and PE on an alternating day schedule duringone of these periods

Non-music students take PE every day during one of these periods During the other encore period, students electing to begin formal

study of foreign languagetake foreign language (semester) andthree exploratory courses; students not electing to take foreignlanguagetake Computer applications, art, FACS, Tech Ed, and twolocal choice options in six week rotations.

Local choice courses are the same offered in 6th grade.

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11/21

EIGHTH GRADE

All 8th graders take Language Arts 8; Pre-Alg.: Course 3,Algebra 1, orGeometry; World Geography; PhysicalScience [60-66 minutes]

8th graders may continue to elect to take music: Music students take music and PE on an alternating day during one

elective period

Non-music students take PE every day during one elective period

8th graders have these additional elective options:

Students may choose two semester options: art, computer applications,FACS, Tech Systems, and a local elective as offered in 6th and 7th; OR

Students may take a (for high school credit)year-long foreignlanguage course

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12/21

Grade

6

Core 1

7:30-8:36

Core 2

8:39-9:45

Core 3

9:48-10:54

Lunch

10:57-

11:22

Core 4

11:25-12:31

Encore

1**

12:34-1:28

Encore

2 **

1:31-2:25

(372/

415)*

66 66 66 25 66 54 54

Grade

7

Encore

1**

7:30-8:24

Encore

2**

8:27-9:21

Core 1

9:24-10:29

Lunch

10:32-

10:57

Core 2

11:00-12:07

Core 3

12:10-1:16

Core 4

1:19-2:25

(372/

415)*

54 54 65 25 67 66 66

Grade

8

Period 1

7:30-8:32

Period 2

8:35-9:37

Period 3***

(Elective)

9:40-10:42

Period 4***

(Elective)

10:45-11:47

Lunch

11:50-

12:15

Period 5

12:18-1:20

Period 6

1:23 -2:25

(372/

415)*

62 62 62 62 25 62 62

*According to the FCPS web site, middle schools begin the day at 7:30 am and end at 2:25 pm for a total of 415minutes. This sample schedule allows 18 minutes for six 3-minute transitions, plus a lunch period of 25minutes.**approximately 7 minutes longer than current exploratories *** approximately 16minutes longer thancurrent electives

Sample Middle School Schedule A

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Primary Differences

Current Schedule Proposed Schedule

Core Subjects : ~45-49 minutes

Non-music students take IT*/keyboardingCTE courses - different lengths (4, 6, 9 wks)

7 or 8 period day

Music in 7th and 8th daily

PE for music students, daily

High school foreign language1 yr

Remed./Inter./ Enrich . period -- ALL

Part-time teachers must travel during day

Core Subjects : 60 minutes or more

All students take IT/keyboardingAll CTE coursessix weeks

6 period day

Music in 7th and 8th on alternating day

PE for music students, alternating day

High school foreign language1.5 yr

Remed./Inter./ Enrich . for those who need it

PT teachers can travel on alternating day

*IT=input technologies

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Concerns

Reduced instructional time for music

Reduced instructional time in PE for music students

Reduced instructional time in exploratory classes (9 weeks to 6 weeksfor some)

Insufficient time for implementation

Will require transitional adjustments: accommodate changes inIT/keyboarding and foreign language; professional development;staffing adjustments; on-going adjustments with new

implementation.

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16/21

Concerns -- Comments

Music teachers will not be able to cover the full content.

[music teacher in 3/13/13 meeting with S. Mitchell]

Why reduce PE time [for music students] when we arefighting a teenage obesity problem?

[PE teacher in 3/13/13 meeting with S. Mitchell]

How will they perform when they go to competition? The

quality will be reduced. [parent in music parent forum on 4/3/13]

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17/21

ConcernsComments (continued)

This [change] would cut instruction time and crippleour ability to maintain our very successful music programs.

Every good music program walks a tightrope of "If my

group sounds good and scores well at competitions, more

students will join. If more students join, my group will

sound good and score well at competitions." We have seenShenandoah County make similar changes, as well as

Loudoun County, and both have seen serious declines in

numbers, in scores at competitions, in participation at

competitions, and in pride in their music programs. It

affects their high school programs as well, with less

students being selected for All-Virginia music groups, and

less music scholarships for college-bound seniors.

[Music teacher , Facebook, sent by a parent to S. Mitchell]

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18/21

Benefits

Consistent programming in all middle schools Ability for middle schools to continue to have some uniqueness

based on student population and staff expertise

Music students no longer have to choose between music andexploratory coursework in 6th and 7tha fundamental feature of

middle school Has built in opportunity for various approaches to intervention for

students who need it (e.g., on-going academic help in local choice time; useof the alternate PE schedule for high-needs students; flexibility within core timeto have reading specialists, math specialists, special education teachers andassistants to work with small groups of students)

More time for initial formal foreign language study (increasingproficiency in foreign language)

Increased time to deepen learning in core academic subjects(increase of about an hour a week)

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Benefits - Comments

I have both A/B classes and non-A/B classes and I find noloss in the ability to learn and retain information in myclasses, especially since most classes start with a few minutesof review. In my opinion, we need to focus on the purposeand meaning of the exploratory courses; students will beintroduced to the possible subjects that will be offered to

them in 8th grade through high school.. I agree with the[change] because it allows students to explore moreoptions for their future consideration.

[ an FCPS CTE Teacher]

I would rather my child be proficient in Math andEnglish. She is very musical, plays numerous instruments,sings beautifully, but studies come first.

[Parent, Delaplane, e-mail to S Mitchell, 2/20/13]

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20/21

Benefits: Comments (continued)

I cannot thank you enough for your part in getting expanded timeto teach the first year [of foreign language] on the new

schedule. It is wonderful. Not only is it great to get 61 minute

classes, we have an extra semester to teach it in. I think that

sixth graders will enjoy having the exploratory class. I think the

new schedule is very creative, especially with the six-week

exploratories. Core teachers are also excited about having moretime to teach the students material for their [standards].

[a FCPS foreign language teacher in e-mail to L. Hoover]

I know what you are talking about. It was difficult for me to

choose between orchestra and the wheelit was a choice I didntwant to make.

[ 8th grade student at School Support Council meeting, 4/4/13]

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Whats Next for School Board?

Scheduling not in policy, but transparency isour intent

Requesting the Boards approval of concepton May 13, 2013

Work Session on April 22, 2013 Curricular changes

Timing of this change; timeline Your questions

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middle school program proposal 4-08-13

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