Time for All Courses
As noted in Recommendation 2, "Instruction, Assessment, and Interventions"; and Recommendation 4, "Relevance," effective middle schools do not sacrifice challenging electives and interest-based activities for the sake of improving test scores. When faced with the challenge of making time for interventions, enrichment, and electives, many effective middle schools have developed flexible schedules that provide time for both reading and math interventions and exposure to the remainder of the courses of study outlined by Education Code Section 51220. The adopted courses of study for grades seven to twelve, inclusive, are:
- English
- Social sciences
- Foreign language or languages
- Physical education
- Science
- Mathematics
- Visual and performing arts
- Applied arts
- Vocational, technical, career education for employment preparation1
Effective middle schools do not reduce or eliminate time for social studies, science, and the arts. Instead, they conduct a thorough analysis of their time management. The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement (Outside Source) provides information related to resource allocation, including time, on its Web site.
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The Importance of Time in Middle Grades
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Recommended and Required Instructional Minutes
Footnote
1Middle Grades Frequently Asked Questions. Sacramento: California Department of Education (accessed April 18, 2007).