Arlington Parents for Effective Schedules in Schools represents a cross section of Arlington citizens and parents mobilized to ensure that our kids continue to receive a world class middle school education. APS has proposed a new block scheduling model for all middle schools. Don’t be fooled by the APS careful use of language that is misleading and doesn’t clearly state the facts about this proposal.
Click here for Jay Matthews article in The Washington Post about this issue.
The main reasons for concern are:
- One of the reasons APS provides for implementing this block schedule is to improve achievement. However, research on block scheduling does not support this. In fact, a local middle school has just decided to eliminate block scheduling when 90 minute classes proved less effective than 45 minute classes in student performance. Click here for a review of the research.
- APS acknowledges that the number of students in 6th grade core classes will likely go up under the proposed schedule, since the number of class periods is going down.
- Physical education/health in 6th grade will be cut from every day to every other day. Because middle school students do not have recess, there will be not be an opportunity for daily physical activity. Click here for related concerns.
- The new schedule creates a substantial 37% net REDUCTION in language arts time. 6th graders who need reading instruction will spend almost 3 hours less in language arts each week, a total of 108 fewer hours per year. Click here for more information on the impact of this schedule on reading and special education students.
- This plan does not give middle schools flexibility to adopt the block schedule that would best suit their unique community and programs. Click here for more information.
- This plan does not allow for cross-grade groupings, which will have a negative impact on music, arts and foreign language programs.
Click here for more information on the impact on music/arts programs.
Click here for more information on the impact on foreign language instruction.
Specific questions, and answers from the APESS Research Committee can be found here.
