Potential block schedule changes district-wide?

[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.

[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.

It will likely just mean less electives for everyone, and no electives for immersion kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It will likely just mean less electives for everyone, and no electives for immersion kids.

How many classes do immersion kids take as part of the program? It is hard to find this info.

[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.

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.

Having 4x4 block will give students fewer classes to focus on in one semester than A day B day (alternating day) block. I am having some trouble envisioning how the alternating day schedule with math every day will work for scheduling. I guess math would be scheduled as periods 1 and 2 or similar to how double period classes are scheduled?

For students, 4 x4 block also gives the students one more class per year, so they will not be dropping an elective for a double period math class. For high school, it is more opportunities to earn credit or to take unique programs.

[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.

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.

Having 4x4 block will give students fewer classes to focus on in one semester than A day B day (alternating day) block. I am having some trouble envisioning how the alternating day schedule with math every day will work for scheduling. I guess math would be scheduled as periods 1 and 2 or similar to how double period classes are scheduled?

For students, 4 x4 block also gives the students one more class per year, so they will not be dropping an elective for a double period math class. For high school, it is more opportunities to earn credit or to take unique programs.

How would they manage one-semester classes like Health in a 4x4 block? Split a block?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It will likely just mean less electives for everyone, and no electives for immersion kids.

How many classes do immersion kids take as part of the program? It is hard to find this info.

At SSIMS, they do Even/Odd blocks, and the immersion kids have their language class every day (both even and odd), plus social studies in their language. So, 3/8 classes in immersion, and they get one elective.

Not sure how Westland does it.

[Anonymous]

So these are the feasible options I see:

1) Schools do regular 7-period schedule with a double period of math, leaving one elective per kid (foreign language or band or something else, must pick one) and no electives for immersion kids or MYP IB schools (only "elective" spot must go to foreign language)
2) Schools do block schedule with double math (i.e. math every day), leaving two elective spots for regular kids and one for kids at MYP IB schools with mandatory FL and zero for immersion kids who take double FL
3) Schools drop to a 6 period schedule with 60 minutes daily for all courses-- leaving one elective per kid (foreign language or band or something else, must pick one) and no electives for immersion kids or MYP IB schools (elective spot goes to foreign language)
4) Schools figure out some way to have kids take double math only a couple days a week, perhaps dropping gym down to 3 days a week or having double math one semester and gym the other (if MSDE okays it as averaging out to 300 minutes over the year), or doing something similar with electives so that kids get 1.5 elective spots rather than 1
5). Schools get MSDE permission to count some really disconnected stuff into their weekly math, like converting basically all of advisory/homeroom into a math into something mathy in huge groups, or spending 15 minutes every day in science class doing something mathy enough to count as math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So these are the feasible options I see:

1) Schools do regular 7-period schedule with a double period of math, leaving one elective per kid (foreign language or band or something else, must pick one) and no electives for immersion kids or MYP IB schools (only "elective" spot must go to foreign language)
2) Schools do block schedule with double math (i.e. math every day), leaving two elective spots for regular kids and one for kids at MYP IB schools with mandatory FL and zero for immersion kids who take double FL
3) Schools drop to a 6 period schedule with 60 minutes daily for all courses-- leaving one elective per kid (foreign language or band or something else, must pick one) and no electives for immersion kids or MYP IB schools (elective spot goes to foreign language)
4) Schools figure out some way to have kids take double math only a couple days a week, perhaps dropping gym down to 3 days a week or having double math one semester and gym the other (if MSDE okays it as averaging out to 300 minutes over the year), or doing something similar with electives so that kids get 1.5 elective spots rather than 1
5). Schools get MSDE permission to count some really disconnected stuff into their weekly math, like converting basically all of advisory/homeroom into a math into something mathy in huge groups, or spending 15 minutes every day in science class doing something mathy enough to count as math

Should also add that all the "zero electives free for kids who take FL/at MYP IB schools" statements also apply to kids at magnets with a mandatory magnet elective.

[Anonymous]

This is awful. What a terrible requirement. Math is important but this is going to come at the expense of everything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is awful. What a terrible requirement. Math is important but this is going to come at the expense of everything else.

+1000

Is there any way to combat this? Why is it ok for the state to demand that math shoulders out everything else?

I liked math as a student, but I would have resented the hell out of it if it meant that I couldn’t have any electives. As an adult, I use everyday math but certainly not anything higher than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is awful. What a terrible requirement. Math is important but this is going to come at the expense of everything else.

+1000

Is there any way to combat this? Why is it ok for the state to demand that math shoulders out everything else?

I liked math as a student, but I would have resented the hell out of it if it meant that I couldn’t have any electives. As an adult, I use everyday math but certainly not anything higher than that.

It’s utterly bizarre. Are any counties in the state already doing this for middle school? I would be shocked if middle schools weren’t offering at least 7 classes, which makes this impossible on any kind of standard bell schedule for any typical length day.