A change in class schedule at Dade County High School could help struggling math and English students and save money, according to principal Billy Millican.
Georgia’s new curriculum demands more rigor and more time on task, Mr. Millican said. Some Dade students struggle to earn their credits and have less make-up time if they get behind, he said.
Mr. Millican said that by next fall, Dade High’s daily schedule could switch from four 90-minute blocks to seven 50-minute classes.
The move could “save a little money” because fewer teachers are needed to fulfill the year-long, seven-period schedule, Mr. Millican said. He couldn’t estimate potential savings.
Students in a four-block day have different teachers and subjects from one semester to the next, he said. But on the seven-period day, students have the same teachers in core subjects such as math and English all year.
“When you go to a seven-period day, that increases the number of hours kids are on task by almost 30 hours (a year),” he said.
However, under the seven-period schedule, students take 28 classes over four years. The four-block schedule allows students to take 32 classes, he said.
Dade High’s math department chairman, Bill Emmett, said the schedule switch could help reduce failures because material would be taught and reviewed every day.
“When you have a block schedule you may have a gap of seven or eight months between math courses,” Mr. Emmett said. He said the same applies to subjects such as foreign language.
The move could also help if the state moves to give end-of-course tests more weight, he said.
The schedule change proposal would have to be approved by the school board before it becomes effective.
, officials said.