1st Edition

The Educational Leader's Guide for School Scheduling Strategies Addressing Grades K–12

    160 Pages
    by Eye On Education

    160 Pages
    by Eye On Education

    The Educational Leader’s Guide for School Scheduling: Strategies Addressing Grades K12 is the first publication to address creative scheduling at all levels: K–5 or 6, K–8, middle, and high schools. This essential resource provides strategies for the effective and equitable distribution of available FTEs throughout the district, while helping you work through the many critical questions and decisions involved in the scheduling process. Based on the authors' decades of experience in expressing the voice of classroom teachers and building administrators in the art of scheduling, each chapter addresses key schedule development issues, providing a step-by-step sequence, multiple tables, templates, and example schedules. Follow the models in this book to master the skills of producing an efficient organizational plan for your school!

    Contents

    List of Tables

    Meet the Authors

    Preface

    Acknowledgment

    eResources

    1. Schedules: Achieving Efficiency and Equity

    An Efficient Schedule Defined

    An Equitable Schedule Defined

    Roles of Stakeholders

    Achieving Flexibility Within Structure

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    2. Core Elements in the Development of a School Schedule:

    District and School Perspectives

    Mission/Vision

    Delivering the Curriculum

    Diverse Populations

    Response to Intervention

    Organizational Frameworks: Primary and Inserts

    Teachers’ Contracts

    Small Learning Communities

    Flexibility

    Least Restrictive Environment

    Financial Resources

    Credit Recovery

    Accommodating CTE and Other Alternatives

    Schedule Implementation

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    3. Managerial Strategies

    Tally

    Department Summary

    FTE Distribution Chart

    Teacher Assignment Chart

    Conflict Matrix

    Blueprint

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    4. Organizational Frameworks

    Primary

    Inserts

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    5. Steps in Building a K-5 or K-6 Schedule

    Step 1: Review, Revise, or Create a Mission/Vision Statement

    Step 2: Gain Faculty Understanding and Support

    Step 3: Provide for the Three Tiers of RtI

    Step 4: Create Modular Grid for Teaching Sections

    Step 5: Confirm FTE, Sections, Common Plan Periods

    Step 6: Confirm the Curriculum Chart

    Step 7: Project Number of Specials Teachers

    Step 8: Place Specials, Lunch, and Intervention on the Grid

    Step 9: Place Core Classes on the Grid

    Step 10: Indicate ELL and Special Education Teachers

    Step 11: Provide Common Planning Time for Specials Teachers and Intervention Team

    Step 12: Establish Rotation for Specials

    Step 13: Finalize FTE

    Step 14: Professional Development

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    6. Steps in Building a K-8 Schedule

    Step 1: Review, Revise, or Create a Mission/Vision Statement

    Step 2: Gain Faculty Understanding and Support

    Step 3: Provide for the Three Tiers of RtI

    Step 4: Create a Modular Grid for Teaching Sections

    Step 5: Confirm Number of Modules Needed for Teaching Sections and Common Planning Periods

    Step 6: Create or Review the Curriculum Chart K-4 or K-5

    Step 7: Establish Program of Studies for Grades 5-8 or 6-8

    Step 8: Project Number of Specials Teachers

    Step 9: Place Specials or Exploratory/Elective Courses, Lunch, and Intervention Periods on Grid

    Step 10: Place Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies on the Grid

    Step 11: Indicate ELL and Special Education Placement on Grid

    Step 12: Provide Common Planning Time Opportunities for Specials, Exploratory/Elective and Intervention Team

    Step 13: Establish Rotations for Specials or Exploratory/Elective Subjects

    Step 14: Finalize FTE numbers

    Step 15. Plan Professional Development

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    7. Steps in Building a Middle School Schedule

    Step 1: Review, Revise, or Create a Mission/Vision Statement

    Step 2: Gain Faculty Understanding and Support

    Step 3: Provide for RtI

    Step 4: Choose Primary Framework and Appropriate Inserts

    Step 5: Create Bell and Lunch Schedule

    Step 6: Formulate the Core Program of Studies

    Step 7: Formulate the Exploratory/Elective Program of Studies

    Step 8: Project Enrollment

    Step 9: Decide Team Composition

    Step 10: Develop a Blueprint

    Step 11: Assemble the Grid of Teachers’ Assignments

    Step 12: Implement Professional Development

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    8. Steps in Building a High School Schedule

    Step 1: Review, Revise, or Create a Mission/Vision Statement

    Step 2: Gain Faculty Understanding and Support

    Step 3: Provide for the Three Tiers of RtI

    Step 4: Choose Primary Framework and Inserts

    Step 5: Create Bell and Lunch Schedule

    Step 6: Decisions on Composition of Houses, Magnets, and Academies

    Step 7: Review and/or Update Curriculum Handbook for Students and Parents

    Step 8: Assemble Registration Materials and Coordinate Course Selection Process

    Step 9: Establish Student Data Base

    Step 10: Create Department Summaries

    Step 11: Create the FTE Distribution Table

    Step 12: Create Teacher Assignment Chart

    Step 13: List Singletons and Doubletons

    Step 14: Formulate a Conflict Matrix for Each Singleton and Doubleton Course

    Step 15: Create a Blueprint for Small Learning Communities

    Step 16: Place Singletons and Doubletons on the Master Schedule by Teacher and Period

    Step 17: Enter Remainder of Courses

    Step 18: Initial and Subsequent Computer Runs

    Step 19: Implement Professional Development

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    9. Aspects of Schedule Implementation

    Recap

    Points to Consider

    Biography

    Elliot Y. Merenbloom has been an educational consultant for 24 years. He has served as a classroom teacher, school counselor, assistant principal, principal, director of middle school instruction, and area director in Baltimore County, Maryland. 

    Barbara A. Kalina has been an educational consultant for over 20 years. She has served as a teacher at Rotolo Middle School and an adjunct professor at Benedictine University and National Louis University.

    "In today’s schools, scheduling is one of the most challenging and daunting tasks facing even the most experienced administrators. With over 60 years of professional experience, Merenbloom and Kalina have assembled a valuable ‘how to’ guide for tackling the challenges of K-12 school scheduling. This highly resourceful volume is a must read for all K-12 administrators."
    -Steven B. Mertens, Associate Professor, Middle Level Education, Illinois State University

    "Drawing on their extensive experience, Merenbloom and Kalina team-up again to share their approach for developing an efficient and effective school schedule for any K-12 school. This practical and research-based guide incorporates clear definitions, specific steps, and more than 100 visual displays of school schedules. Anyone interested in school scheduling as a tool to support equitable student learning will use this book again and again."
    -Micki M. Caskey, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor, Graduate School of Education, Portland State University

    "The longer I have been in the school business, the more I have understood the importance and the difficulty of school scheduling.  Using some of the strategies in this book, my district has systematically scheduled flexible intervention time within the school day and the results are phenomenal.  This book is worth reading."
    -Karen Hickman, Deputy Superintendent of Academic Achievement, Pasadena Independent School District, TX