By next fall, middle school students in Elmhurst might have more choices when it comes to electives.
They may also study more subjects per day and spend a little longer in class. And their parents could receive report cards four times a year rather than three.
These are some of the changes a task force formed last fall plans to recommend for Elmhurst Community Unit District 205. The committee’s report, which could mean major changes in how the district’s three middle schools deliver instruction, should reach the School Board by this spring.
The group of 15 parents, teachers and administrators will suggest a substantial overhaul within the schools, including switching from a modified block to a traditional scheduling system, extending class periods from 41 to 45 minutes and reporting student progress on a quarterly basis, Superintendent Lynn Krizic said.
The three junior highs — Bryan, Churchville and Sandburg — have used a modified block scheduling system for the last five years. In that system, students spend one day each week in an extended period of a particular subject. For example, they might have math for one period on three days out of the week and for two periods on one day. The system allows teachers to do activities, such as labs, that may run longer than one period.
But the task force found that more successful middle schools are using a traditional schedule in which students are exposed to important subjects daily, Krizic said. The group compared District 205’s junior highs with 13 other school districts. These districts spent similar amounts of money per student and had similar class sizes, yet out-performed District 205, Krizic said.
She said the task force was formed because student performance varied significantly among the three middle schools.
“We saw a discernible difference among the schools and it’s our responsibility to work toward achieving equitable outcomes among them,” Krizic said. “It would be great if (high school) teachers could not know which middle school a student came from based on performance and participation.”
Krizic said submitting the group’s recommendations by March will give School Board members enough time to put into motion any changes by the 2007-08 school year.
School Board member Tom Thrall said he will scrutinize any decision affecting curriculum.
“This is one of the most critical decisions we’re going to make in the next 12 months,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re being as efficient and effective as any other district.”