Potential block schedule changes district-wide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Noticed this in the MCPS CIP presentation for today: "The decision to do block schedule is a school based decision. If a school wants to change the structure of how
they support students, it is the decision of the leadership team. By 2027, we may need all schools to implement a
consistent model. MSDE is requiring an increase in math instructional minutes at the middle school level, and
regional programs also will necessitate greater alignment across high schools." https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DNBKR55311CE/$file/FY2027%20Cap%20Bdgt%20FY2027-2032%20CIP%20251111%20PPT.pdf

I looked it up and the MSDE requirement is 300 math minutes per week for middle schoolers. How many minutes per class per week do middle schoolers have for block schedule versus regular schedule? Does this mean that they are likely to switch to all block schedule or get rid of block schedule everywhere?

(ES parent with a kid heading to MS so I'm not familiar with this but very curious about the implications.)

The requirement is for 60 mins per day, not 300 minutes per week. It means that block scheduleing would have to ensure a standalone hour for math every day, which could get tricky. But even regular scheduling would require more time for math, as 45 minutes still won't cut it. It will be interesting to see what MCPS does.

Nope. "Beginning SY 2027-2028, LEAs shall adhere to a minimum daily requirement of 60 cumulative
instructional minutes or the equivalent of 300 weekly minutes for all math courses in
kindergarten through grade 8." https://marylandpublicsch...h-25-A.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Superintendent was at Sligo Creek elementary tonight and said most schools might have to abandon block to meet the 60 min per day.

Did he say how they would do that? Even regular schedule leaves kids WAY short of the 300 minutes per week, like 50-75 minutes per week short. How on earth are they going to fit that in?

[Anonymous]

Would it work to have 4 by 4 block schedule in middle school where students have 4 classes fall semester and four other classes second semester? They could just have math all year which would be three classes plus math in fall and three other classes plus math in spring.

For the high schoolers, it would be 8 total classes in one year. The extra class would help kids who want to go to Edison, kids who need to repeat a class, or kids who want to get ahead. Lots of Maryland counties already do this. For seniors, they could have graduation requirements in fall and use spring for internships or MC classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would it work to have 4 by 4 block schedule in middle school where students have 4 classes fall semester and four other classes second semester? They could just have math all year which would be three classes plus math in fall and three other classes plus math in spring.

For the high schoolers, it would be 8 total classes in one year. The extra class would help kids who want to go to Edison, kids who need to repeat a class, or kids who want to get ahead. Lots of Maryland counties already do this. For seniors, they could have graduation requirements in fall and use spring for internships or MC classes.

That would hit the MSDE numbers but then wouldn't it mean they would only take English, science, and social studies half the year? And foreign language? And band? Doesn't feel workable.

(The minutes only apply K-8 FYI.)

[Anonymous]

TPMS just got rid of block scheduling and it was a whole thing...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Superintendent was at Sligo Creek elementary tonight and said most schools might have to abandon block to meet the 60 min per day.

Oh so they're more likely to do away with block scheduling altogether? I'm ok with that.

[Anonymous]

Could do four periods blocks with math being all year and other subjects half a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it work to have 4 by 4 block schedule in middle school where students have 4 classes fall semester and four other classes second semester? They could just have math all year which would be three classes plus math in fall and three other classes plus math in spring.

For the high schoolers, it would be 8 total classes in one year. The extra class would help kids who want to go to Edison, kids who need to repeat a class, or kids who want to get ahead. Lots of Maryland counties already do this. For seniors, they could have graduation requirements in fall and use spring for internships or MC classes.

That would hit the MSDE numbers but then wouldn't it mean they would only take English, science, and social studies half the year? And foreign language? And band? Doesn't feel workable.

(The minutes only apply K-8 FYI.)

Definitely workable. Know kids in other states who have just this in HS. Almost mirrors college scheduling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could do four periods blocks with math being all year and other subjects half a year.

Could also have four periods a day with math every day — isn’t that what tpms used to have for non-magnet kids? But I think that would mean more work for teachers or needing more math teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Superintendent was at Sligo Creek elementary tonight and said most schools might have to abandon block to meet the 60 min per day.

Oh so they're more likely to do away with block scheduling altogether? I'm ok with that.

Even if they get rid of block scheduling, they have to add more time for math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Noticed this in the MCPS CIP presentation for today: "The decision to do block schedule is a school based decision. If a school wants to change the structure of how
they support students, it is the decision of the leadership team. By 2027, we may need all schools to implement a
consistent model. MSDE is requiring an increase in math instructional minutes at the middle school level, and
regional programs also will necessitate greater alignment across high schools." https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DNBKR55311CE/$file/FY2027%20Cap%20Bdgt%20FY2027-2032%20CIP%20251111%20PPT.pdf

I looked it up and the MSDE requirement is 300 math minutes per week for middle schoolers. How many minutes per class per week do middle schoolers have for block schedule versus regular schedule? Does this mean that they are likely to switch to all block schedule or get rid of block schedule everywhere?

(ES parent with a kid heading to MS so I'm not familiar with this but very curious about the implications.)

The requirement is for 60 mins per day, not 300 minutes per week. It means that block scheduleing would have to ensure a standalone hour for math every day, which could get tricky. But even regular scheduling would require more time for math, as 45 minutes still won't cut it. It will be interesting to see what MCPS does.

Nope. "Beginning SY 2027-2028, LEAs shall adhere to a minimum daily requirement of 60 cumulative
instructional minutes or the equivalent of 300 weekly minutes for all math courses in
kindergarten through grade 8." https://marylandpublicsch...h-25-A.pdf

Does that mean that kids who take high-school level classes in middle school also need more math, or is just for grade k-grade 8 math standards?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it work to have 4 by 4 block schedule in middle school where students have 4 classes fall semester and four other classes second semester? They could just have math all year which would be three classes plus math in fall and three other classes plus math in spring.

For the high schoolers, it would be 8 total classes in one year. The extra class would help kids who want to go to Edison, kids who need to repeat a class, or kids who want to get ahead. Lots of Maryland counties already do this. For seniors, they could have graduation requirements in fall and use spring for internships or MC classes.

That would hit the MSDE numbers but then wouldn't it mean they would only take English, science, and social studies half the year? And foreign language? And band? Doesn't feel workable.

(The minutes only apply K-8 FYI.)

Definitely workable. Know kids in other states who have just this in HS. Almost mirrors college scheduling.

NP. I had this in high school and it's "workable" but it has problems. You end up with long breaks for classes that benefit from continuity like languages and you have half the time to read outside of class for English so you read a lot fewer books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would it work to have 4 by 4 block schedule in middle school where students have 4 classes fall semester and four other classes second semester? They could just have math all year which would be three classes plus math in fall and three other classes plus math in spring.

For the high schoolers, it would be 8 total classes in one year. The extra class would help kids who want to go to Edison, kids who need to repeat a class, or kids who want to get ahead. Lots of Maryland counties already do this. For seniors, they could have graduation requirements in fall and use spring for internships or MC classes.

Why is this better than regular block schedule (alternating days) but with math every day?

Honestly I think regular block schedule with math every day is probably the best solution here. It drops block schedule kids down to 2 electives rather than 3, but if they try to increase math on the regular schedule it could knock kids down from 2 electives to 1 which is worse.

[Anonymous]

It’s going to screw up middle school
immersion schedules, because those depend on block scheduling to get adequate exposure in the target language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s going to screw up middle school
immersion schedules, because those depend on block scheduling to get adequate exposure in the target language.

Do they all have block schedules? I thought Westland did not.