Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:18     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
I’m the OP and will update my original question: Do SSIMS, Argyle, Parkland or Loiederman teachers get ANY PD for teaching every other day for 80+ minutes versus everyday for 45 minutes?

I’m thinking about a teacher involuntarily transferred into one of these schools as well as countywide PD. When I was in MCPS I taught in a MS with a traditional schedule. None of our content specific PD was differentiated for teachers working at the schools with block scheduling.

Doesn’t MCPS look at these school report cards and think this schedule could contribute to low scores?
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 17:49     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are a bunch of schools with a block schedule, not just the MSMC


Name them please.


Not the PP but SSIMS is one. (and it's our home school so I'm not tracking any others).


Are they 4 classes every other day for a total of 8? I know TP used to be like this until this year.


Yes
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 15:07     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are a bunch of schools with a block schedule, not just the MSMC


Name them please.


Not the PP but SSIMS is one. (and it's our home school so I'm not tracking any others).


Are they 4 classes every other day for a total of 8? I know TP used to be like this until this year.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2026 14:25     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are a bunch of schools with a block schedule, not just the MSMC


Name them please.


Not the PP but SSIMS is one. (and it's our home school so I'm not tracking any others).
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2026 21:39     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
Anonymous wrote:There are a bunch of schools with a block schedule, not just the MSMC


Name them please.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2026 21:38     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
Anonymous wrote:MSMC is optional. Your kid can choose not to attend if they can't handle an 8th class or 14% less instructional time per class.


It’s not optional. Our home elementary is one of the 8 that all feed into the MSMC. Unless we get into a criteria based Magnet, we are stuck with the block schedule
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2026 20:26     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
There are a bunch of schools with a block schedule, not just the MSMC
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2026 19:56     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
Anonymous wrote:MSMC is optional. Your kid can choose not to attend if they can't handle an 8th class or 14% less instructional time per class.


Not for those zoned there, no.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2026 19:09     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
MSMC is optional. Your kid can choose not to attend if they can't handle an 8th class or 14% less instructional time per class.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 17:32     Subject: MSMC Block Schedule PD?
Illustrative Math has scope and sequences for 90 minute blocks. Couldn’t find anything for CKLA other than that it’s designed for daily instruction for 45-60 minutes.

Do the MSMC teachers have separate PD from the rest of MCPS for their 83 minute blocks that meet every other day? That’s 26 hours less instructional time than a traditional 7 period day.

While extra electives may be exciting, how/why did MCPS decide this section of the district didn’t deserve as much instructional time?

The data doesn’t seem to support this block schedule in terms of test scores. Has this ever been brought up to the BOE? Some members have kids in the MSMC and must see how different it is than the schools on traditional schedules.