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Schools

Big Changes Coming to Middle School Schedules in Central Bucks

District administrators say longer classes will enhance learning, increase instructional efficiency.

The Central Bucks School District has come up with a way to squeeze more teaching of core subjects into the seven-hour middle school day.

Starting in the fall, middle school students will attend six 56-minute classes rather than seven 46-minute classes. The extra time will be created by eliminating one elective class per day. Those electives include art, music and other subjects not deemed to be part of a core education.

Nancy Silvious, the district's assistant superintendent for secondary education, said studies have shown that more time spent on core subjects -- math, science, social studies, reading, and English -- results in a more efficient use of educational resources.

"The two most important factors are quality teachers and meaningful engagement in learning for as much time as possible," Silvious told the school board this week.

Central Bucks already has quality teachers, Silvious said. The challenge is in making the best use of the time between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., she said.

Twice in the past eight years, Silvious said administrators tried to increase instructional time while keeping everything else in place. This time, they decided that would be impossible, she said.

"It's not necessary for all students to take the same courses at the same time," she said.

By eliminating one elective and adding 10 minutes to each core subject, students will receive an additional three-quarters of a year of instruction, said Silvious. And with no A/B class days to worry about, students will have "less on their plate" at any one time, she said.

The additional time will be helpful in preparing students to take the Keystone Exams, a new state mandate that will be part of the the graduation requirement in coming years. The Keystone Exams will concentrate heavily on core subjects, said Silvious.

"This affirms the board's priority to protect the core," she said. "Students will receive more of some things and less of others. We're maximizing the time and resources we have available while also emphasizing student choice."

Nearly two decades ago, the district implemented block scheduling at the high school level. At the time, some parents, teachers and students questioned the wisdom of 90-minute classes. But with SAT scores and other tests results soaring since then, skeptics are convinced.

Board member Geri McMullen, who represents the Doylestown area, said the new middle schools schedule, while not quite as dramatic as that adapted at the high school, will have an equally positive effect on student learning.

"I think the results will be astounding," she said.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Laws said the change in middle school schedule is an example of how the district is reinventing itself in the face of dwindling resources.

"We have to look at ways we can do things differently," he said. "If not, we'll force ourselves into obsolescence."

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