COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL’S SCHEDULING PROPOSAL NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The High School Scheduling Committee Members Glenn Couture……............Norwalk High School Anthony Daddona………....Central Office Maureen Ireland…………….Norwalk High School Raymond Manka…............Norwalk High School Katherine Okrentowich…..Brien McMahon High School Edward Singleton……………Central Office Thomas Seuch…….............Brien McMahon High School Barbara Wood…….............Brien McMahon High School

The High School Scheduling Committee’s Charge This committee was formed in the Fall of the 2014-2015 school year to re-exam the daily schedule at both comprehensive high schools. The goal of this committee is to propose a mutually agreed upon schedule that will ultimately benefit both communities of learners in an effort to comply with the CSDE anticipated increase of graduation credits for the class of 2020.

Priorities of the Committee Student Engagement Attention Attendance Time on Task Focused Learning Time Contact time with Students Increased quality time with students Increased Course Offerings Meeting the new CSDE credit requirement for 2020

The Process Total of nine meetings: 6 in-district, 3 off-site; Committee members researched and reviewed comprehensive high school schedules, both locally and nationally; Committee members visited Brookfield High School, New Fairfield High School, and The Academy of Information, Technology and Engineering, Stamford; Committee members deliberated to design a mutually agreed upon schedule; Committee members will present findings to their respective high schools; Committee members will present their recommendations to NPS BOE in the late Spring of the 2014-15 school year; Professional development will begin during the Fall of the 2015-16 school year; Implementation to begin during the 2016-17 school year.

Meeting Dates Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Tuesday, October 28, 2014 Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Tuesday, December 2, 2014 (Brookfield High School) Wednesday, December 3, 2014 (New Milford High School) Wednesday, December 17, 2014 (AITE, Stamford) Tuesday, January 6, 2015 Tuesday, March 10, 2015 Thursday, April 2, 2015

Models Examined  

Brookfield High School Daily Schedule A/B Schedule Matrix and Lunch Options

Blocks are 83 minutes each Lunch and Flex are 24 minutes each ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lunch Option View Lunch Option 1 Lunch Option 2 1   7:15-8:38 (83) 2   8:43-10:06 (83) Lunch/Flex   10:11-10:35 (24) 3   10:11-11:34 (83) Flex/Lunch   10:40-11:04 (24) Lunch/Flex   11:39-12:03 (24) 3   11:09-12:32 (83) Flex/Lunch   12:08-12:32 (24) 4   12:37-2:00 (83)

New Milford High School

Academy of Information Technology and Engineering Daily Schedule Period: Start Time: End Time: 1 7:25 AM 8:53 AM 2 8:58 AM 10:26 AM (Lunch Wave 1) 3 10:31 AM 11:05 AM 11:00 AM 12:32 PM 3 (Lunch Wave 2) 10:31 AM 12:03 PM 11:59 AM 12:32 PM 4 12:37 PM 2:05 PM

Connections (Advisory) Schedule: Period: Start Time: End Time: 1 7:25 AM 8:40 AM Connections 8:45 AM 9:29 AM 2 9:34 AM 10:49 AM 3 Class:    Lunch:         11:30 AM 10:54 AM 12:45 PM 11:25 AM 3 Class:    Lunch: 10:54 AM 12:14 PM 12:09 PM 12:45 PM 4 12:50 PM 2:05 PM

Proposed BLOCK SCHEDULING BENEFITS CHALLENGES More time to complete assignments in class under teacher supervision Opportunity to take additional classes/credits Ability to complete multiple activities Reteach within the same class period More time to use technology Fewer transitions Continuous planning time College and career readiness Adequate professional development Classes seem extra long Students maintaining focus Abbreviated Schedules Fast paced curriculum Impact of teacher/ student absences Sustained motivation over time Effective use of extra class time

Norwalk High School ROTATING SCHEDULE BENEFITS CHALLENGES Contact with students 4-5 days a week; Chronically tardy students will not miss the same class each morning; Engagement varies with time of day; Class periods are moderate—neither too long nor too short Confusion for students (new students and special groups); Difficult for part-time staff; Planning time has to be accommodate carefully; Over abundance of study halls (students can have multiple study hall periods daily

Brien McMahon High School TRADITIONAL SCHEDULE BENEFITS CHALLENGES Students are seen daily Misses less material if teacher/student are absent Slightly more instructional time Consistency in routine Increased transitions Less course offerings Some subject areas may struggle with decreased lesson/activity time Lunch = one class period

NFT CONSIDERATIONs BENEFITS CHALLENGES In all of the schools there was no loss of staff due to scheduling change. (two schools added staff within two years of implementation). The teaching loads remained the same (5 divisions for each teacher) Each teacher was guaranteed a prep everyday averaging in length of 80- 90 minutes. Science teachers were now able to teach five divisions due to the loss of Lab Periods allowing for more electives. Process allowed for other teachers to visit and observe different schedules. Slight loss of contact time for AP science classes.   Training for handling longer periods was essential.