What is this New Schedule at Our High Schools

What is this New Schedule at Our High Schools?

Commonly referred to as “Block Scheduling”, the high schools in Hardy County will implement at new type of schedule this year. Your child will have a schedule consisting of four periods in one semester, and four periods in the second semester. This will allow for a total of 8 classes in any year. High School students are required to obtain 25 credits to graduate from high school. This allows students an opportunity to complete their required courses, but still have time to participate in Band, Vo-Ag, Theater, etc.

The main reason Hardy County has gone to a block schedule in High School is the need to have a schedule that will permit students to take the classes need for graduation and higher expectations for admission into college. Not having the opportunity to take classes has resulted in students not being able to take the classes they would like to take – called electives, or in some cases to meet even the basic requirements for graduation – resulting in drop-outs.

Over the past several years, and continuing into the future, the increase in required classes has affected our students. Some examples are additional social studies, science, math and vocational completers requirements. Already some of our students have to often choose between foreign language or advance math, science or agriculture, technical training in our vocational schools or fine arts. In addition, due to the Community College and the availability of classes on the Internet our students have the opportunity to take a much wider variety of high school and college classes – classes that can better meet individual student needs, reduce the courses needed in college and the cost for higher education. Another factor is that the state, and federal government, is drastically increasing the expectations for students. The “No Child Left Behind” law sets very strict requirements. For some students this will mean additional make-up or remedial classes in order to be prepared to pass the required test.

For a number of years the Board has dealt with the problem of more class requirements, the lack of electives, and students not being able to take the classes they would like. Since the fall of 2002 Hardy County Schools has studied different schedules. In making the final decision a committee of teachers and administrators, some of the foremost experts in the country, parents and students worked to develop the recommendations for the new schedule.

Although there are several different ways the most adopted across the country is the “modified 4 by 4”. This schedule divides each school day into four periods, and each semester will have four different classes. A student will have eight classes, and earn eight high school credits, during the course of a school year. Some classes that would benefit the most from meeting every day, such as band, choir and vocational agriculture, may still be offered as 45 minute “singletons”.

Besides the benefit of being able to take additional classes there are other benefits. The increase in time spent in daily instructional time and the decrease in the total number of subjects per semester will enable students to concentrate on just four subjects at a time. This is particularly helpful with homework, make-up work and at test-taking time. Student involved in after school activities find the decreased class load to be a benefit.

This fall marks the first year of our new schedule. As with any change there will be the need to review, revise and improve. Throughout the year, and the years ahead, hardy County Schools will continue to work to develop the best schedule possible to meet the needs of every student. If any parent has additional questions please contact your school principal or the office of the Superintendent.