Wednesday, June 6, 2001
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Wednesday, June 6, 2001 |
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Middle school restructuring discussed By MONROE
ROARK
Results of recent studies into the Fayette County School System's structure for middle schools are now under consideration by the Board of Education and will likely be adopted in the near future. Staff proposed some changes after comparing the current county system, adopted in 1989, with the requirements of new state laws and regulations. "These adjustments to the current middle school program will assure compliance with mandated reforms and allow the procurement of the maximum rate of funding while recognizing the top level of achievement that all of Fayette County's middle schools are currently experiencing," according to the school system's Middle School Restructuring Commission. The commission's recommendations are as follows: Increase the current academic block from 4.5 hours (270 minutes) to five hours (300 minutes) per day to comply with the statutory requirements of House Bill 656. The academic block will include instruction in English, reading, mathematics, science and social studies. Students who are performing at level one of the Georgia Criterion Reference Test would be offered remedial instruction in math and reading with the addition of remediation in science and social studies when needs in those academic subjects are identified. Remedial instruction in math and reading would occur in appropriately leveled classes. Reduce teacher planning time from the current 105 minutes to 90 minutes to accommodate the additional time in the academic block. This would still be above the maximum 55 minutes funded by current legislation, and would also allow for two tracks of Connections (formerly called Exploratory) classes of 42 minutes in length. Extend the Connections block from six to nine weeks. This would provide 33.75 hours of instructional time for each class. Fayette County currently offers two tracks of 53-minute Connections classes, totalling 26.25 hours of instructional time for each class. But the A+ Reform Act now mandates 30 hours of instruction for each Connections class. This change would also allow middle school grading periods to be aligned with the current high school grading periods. Adopt a proposed schedule to accommodate the aforementioned recommendations while expanding the current role for Connections teachers. This schedule contains an additional 60-minute period of time for Connections teachers. During those blocks of time, these teachers would be assigned by their principals to provide instructional assistance based on their academic background and certification. Such services can include, but are not limited to, tutoring, collaborative teaching and differentiated instructional support. When outlining these recommendation at Monday's Board of Education meeting, staff informed board members that implementing these changes would not lengthen the school day for middle school students, who already have the longest day of any students in the system.
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