Decoding the Master Schedule: Analyzing Course Offerings, Choice, and Length to Uncover Educational Values

A school's master schedule speaks volumes about its priorities. It reveals how the school decides to allocate the time of students and staff and what it values most in education.

For example, a school that prioritizes test scores and academic achievement may require more instructional time for core academic subjects and less time for electives. Students who require additional support to improve their academic performance may get double the time in ELA or math. In contrast, a school that values a more "well-rounded" education may prioritize a wide variety of elective options for students to choose from, even for students who struggle academically.

Another way is to look at the type or length of courses offered. In schools that prioritize deeper learning and the development of essential skills, you will likely find courses with integrated curricula. They may offer courses like "GeoDesign," "Biolit," "American Studies," or "Civic Reasoning," with two teachers and more time for students to collaborate. In more traditional schools, courses will typically be of uniform length with titles aligned with specific graduation requirements like "English 9," "US History," or "Biology."

The number of choices offered to students at different grade levels can also reflect a school's priorities. A school that offers a lot of choices early in high school may have limited off-campus opportunities for students later in high school because students don't have as much flexibility in their schedule. A school that values off-campus opportunities may require a more rigid freshman schedule.

Schools that prioritize building a positive school culture or social-emotional learning may provide time in the master schedule for an advisory period to help facilitate restorative circles, mindfulness exercises, or workshops in conflict resolution. Schools without such a period prioritize academic class time and need to push into different subject areas for lessons on culture and social-emotional learning.

Master scheduling is an underappreciated art form. I urge administrators to review their master schedule with a team to ensure that it aligns with the school's values and goals for students. Promoting open dialogue and critical thinking is crucial during this process. If there is a discrepancy between the team's assessment and the school's priorities, changes should be made. The master schedule is a powerful tool to support the school's mission and vision for students. Don't be afraid to make adjustments that align with your school's values. Your students and community will thank you.

The way we do things around here.→

Culture greatly impacts student achievement, teacher morale, and school climate. A strong, positive culture supports learning and growth, while a toxic one can harm students, teachers, and staff.

“A school’s culture is a complex pattern of norms, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, values, ceremonies, traditions, and myths that are deeply ingrained in the very core of the organization and wields astonishing power in shaping what people think and how they act.”

— Roland Barth, The Culture Builder

Transforming Middle School with Essential Outcomes at Handy Middle School

As a teacher, I had my first encounter with the New Tech Network in the spring of 2010 at Bloomington New Tech in Indiana. It was there, under the leadership of Alan Veach, that I was introduced to project-based learning and the intentional teaching of essential skills. I was fortunate enough to later serve as principal for two New Tech high schools and am now working with my district team and a talented group of school leaders and teachers to bring this innovative approach to Handy Middle School.

This video highlights the exciting work happening at Handy Middle School as they implement the New Tech Network's essential learning outcomes. These outcomes, which include agency, collaboration, knowledge and thinking, and written & oral communication, go beyond traditional content standards and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the future.

Empowering Educators: Handy Middle School Teachers Share Their Vision for a New Approach to Learning

I love this video of teachers sharing their excitement for the new learning approach they had been preparing to implement. Over the summer, they worked closely with a team of instructional support staff, school leaders, and each other to bring the innovative New Tech Network model to life in their classrooms.

What I appreciate most about this video is the opportunity to hear directly from the teachers, as they shared their experiences and perspectives. The personal touch they bring to the story was invaluable in fostering a deeper understanding of the hard work and dedication that goes into shaping the future of education.

Teachers play an incredibly important role in telling the story of the work happening in schools, and their voices are critical in creating a human connection with the community. The teachers and leaders at Handy Middle School are to be commended for their unwavering commitment to education and their efforts to positively impact the lives of their students and the future of education.

We Still Don't Know the Difference Between Change and Transformation→

Ron Ashkenas, writing for Harvard Business Review:

Unlike change management, [transformation] doesn’t focus on a few discrete, well-defined shifts, but rather on a portfolio of initiatives, which are interdependent or intersecting. More importantly, the overall goal of transformation is not just to execute a defined change — but to reinvent the organization and discover a new or revised business model based on a vision for the future. It’s much more unpredictable, iterative, and experimental. It entails much higher risk. And even if successful change management leads to the execution of certain initiatives within the transformation portfolio, the overall transformation could still fail.

While his audience is clearly the business community, the above statement speaks volumes to educators just the same.