AACStudents Media Review

An intro to the 3 candidates for Student Member of the board.

Apparently starting this semester (2nd semester 2007-8), Arundel High School is starting 50-minute lunches (as opposed to 25). Just how they managed to get a different schedule than the other county high schools--or how they managed to eke out an additional 25 minutes of lunch without affecting other classes--isn't specified. However, the idea of this plan is to increase student achievement by allowing extra time for help and supervised studying, as well as extracurricular activities. Given our problems with after-school transportation (i.e., students without cars or on-call parents can't stay after for help, sports, or other extracurriculars), a 50-minute lunch has considerable promise, even though staff is a bit wary of students running around "unsupervised" for so long!

The Anne Arundel County school board will begin televising its meetings within a year, bringing the school system in step with surrounding counties, but not satisfying critics, who want the meetings aired on the district's Web site, too.

Bush proposal redraws lines on private, public school funds. Information on vouchers and how they affect public education. State school Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick and Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin say they do not support this proposal. What do you think?

In case anyone is interested in teacher salaries.

School start times, longer school days, and less homework.

The Boston Globe Editorial page has this story on school start times. Check it out and vote!

This is actually quite a convincing article. Different approach to the topic, but effective nevertheless. Scared me though, given my average 4-7 hours a night. What do you think?

An injustice against the student member. This is the first time the student member of Anne Arundel County has been treated as an inferior to the rest of the board. This is just the first step in taking away the rights that students have worked so hard for.

The Washington Post has done a story on school cell phone policies. Do you agree with their reporting?

"Well-meaning teachers and parents could easily end up paying for their schools' paper, chalk and art supplies after funding cuts announced last week, county education leaders say." By Elisabeth Hulette

A cutback in substitute teachers may endanger the ability of schools and teachers to take field trips.

Driven by stress on test scores, systems trim other subjects. Especially in elementary schools, this article explores how science, social studies, art, P.E., recess, etc. have been cut to make time for test preparation. By Ruma Kumar

Test Pressures Spur Some Schools to Stretch Out Calendar--and school day length.

Dr. Maxwell’s plan was formulated with input from the Middle School Task Force, a panel made up of parents, community partners, educators, administrators, and students that was formed as an outgrowth of the October 2006 Middle School Summit. Dr. Maxwell and schools officials also have met with and garnered input from principals, teachers, parents, student groups, and other interested parties.

“As we have looked at reforming the way we deliver instruction in our middle schools, discussions surrounding the instructional schedule have been at the forefront,” Dr. Maxwell said. “While this change may not have happened as quickly as some may have liked, I was insistent that we not make a change just for the sake of change. I believe this schedule maintains the differentiation necessary to assist all of our students while putting in place the mechanisms to raise student achievement. It also maintains collaborative planning time for our teachers, which is critical to the success of our students.”

Teachers teach four out of six classes, as opposed to three of four classes in the current schedule. That will result in increased time for job-embedded professional development as well as interdisciplinary team and grade-level content planning.

Under the plan, the length of class periods would change from the current 86 minutes to 58. Students would have 25-minute lunch periods. The length of the school day would not be increased beyond the current 6 hours and 40 minutes.

The schedule meets state requirements for physical educa­tion/health and fine arts at all grade levels. It also provides increased opportunities for students to study World and Classical Languages, and to participate in AVID or research-based intervention classes at all grade levels.

The schedule would require additional teachers because of the switch to daily instruction in Science and Social Studies and the increased Encore course choices. To maintain current average class sizes, the proposed schedule would cost AACPS about $7.4 million if it is implemented system-wide.