Taft Families,

As we prepare for the upcoming academic year, we are working to ensure that our school continues to meet the evolving needs of our students. Recently, the state of Oregon introduced new graduation requirements for high school students, which include two additional classes for future graduating classes. This change presents an opportunity for us to enhance our students’ academic experiences but also requires us to adjust our scheduling to accommodate the increased number of courses. The changes to the new graduation requirements start with half credit each in higher education and career path skills and personal financial education to graduation requirements starting in 2027.  For more information see Oregon Department of Educaiton website.

To meet these new graduation requirements and ensure we can offer all the necessary classes, we are considering a shift to a Block Schedule. This change would allow us to add more sections to the school day, ensuring that all students can meet the updated requirements while maintaining a manageable course load. While the block schedule presents many benefits, we still want to ensure that we make this decision in collaboration with our school community, and we invite your input as we move forward.

Block Scheduling (4 Periods per Day, 90 Minutes Each, A/B Days)

What is Block Scheduling?
In a block schedule, students attend 4 longer classes each day, with each period lasting approximately 90 minutes. This structure allows for deeper engagement in each subject and helps accommodate the addition of required courses. Students would attend on an A & B schedule taking 4 classes on A day and 4 classes on B day.  These classes would earn credits at the semester just as they do in the traditional schedule system.

Why Block Scheduling?

We believe that the block schedule offers significant advantages, particularly in light of the new graduation requirements. Here’s why:

• Deeper Learning and Engagement: The extended class periods provide more time for hands-on activities, discussions, and project-based learning. This allows students to engage in more meaningful and in-depth work, rather than rushing through content in short bursts.
• Reduced Stress and Better Focus: With fewer subjects each day, students can focus on mastering one or two subjects at a time, which can reduce the pressure of juggling multiple classes. This is especially helpful as we integrate the additional required courses.
• Fewer Transitions: With fewer classes to attend, students experience less time spent moving between rooms, making for a more efficient and focused school day.
• More Flexibility for Teachers: Teachers will have more time to focus on differentiated instruction and provide personalized support to students, helping them better meet the academic demands of the new requirements.
• More Effective Use of Time: The block schedule would allow us to fit additional sections into the school day, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to meet graduation requirements without overwhelming them with too many courses on any given day.

Cons of Block Scheduling:
While the block schedule offers some clear benefits, we acknowledge that longer class periods might be a challenge for some students, particularly those who struggle with maintaining focus for extended periods. Additionally, if a student misses a class, they may miss a larger chunk of material compared to the traditional schedule. However, with proactive communication and strategies to support absentees, we believe these challenges can be effectively managed.

Traditional (Current) 8-Period Day (47  Minutes per Period)

What is the Traditional (Current) Schedule at Taft?
The current schedule at Taft includes 8 class periods each day (accept Wednesday) with students taking seven core classes and one advisory class.  These classes are 47 minutes long with advsory being 25 minutes.  Students rotate through a variety of subjects on a daily basis.

Pros of the Traditional Schedule:

• Variety: Students experience a wide range of subjects daily, which may help keep them engaged and maintain a balanced routine.
• Shorter Periods: Shorter class times may be better suited for students who struggle with long sessions of focus.
• Frequent Interaction: Teachers see students every day, allowing for regular touchpoints and more consistent feedback.

Cons of the Traditional Schedule:

• Surface-Level Learning: The shorter periods often mean that lessons must be rushed, limiting students’ ability to engage deeply with the material.
• Increased Homework Load: Juggling multiple subjects each day can lead to a heavier homework load, which some students find stressful.
• Constant Transitions: Frequent class changes can disrupt the flow of the day, making it harder for students to settle into a productive learning rhythm.

Given the new graduation requirements and the increased number of classes that need to be offered, we believe the Block Schedule may be a good solution to effectively meet these needs while also improving the overall learning experience for students. With deeper engagement in fewer subjects, longer periods will allow our teachers to focus on project-based, hands-on learning and differentiated instruction, which are proven to enhance student understanding and retention. Additionally, the block schedule provides the flexibility needed to ensure all students meet graduation requirements without overwhelming them.

Next Steps

We understand that this is a significant change, and we value your input in this process. We invite you to join us for a Parent Information Session on March 5th at 5:30PM, both in person and on Zoom, where we will provide more details about the block scheduling model, explain how it will accommodate the new graduation requirements, and answer any questions you may have.

Additionally, we will have a survey sent out to gather your feedback. Your perspective is crucial in helping us make the best decision for our students and community.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to ensure our students have the best possible academic experience.

TIGERS ROCK!!