Common use of Block Scheduling Clause in Contracts

Block Scheduling. 1. The PCSTA and District enter into this trial of block scheduling with the belief that Block scheduling will help to maximize student achievement by creating a better climate for learning, allowing for more academic support, and reducing student discipline problems. It is not the intent of the District to utilize block scheduling in order to increase class loads or class sizes. Current (1997-98) JCB and (2001-2002) EJD scheduling practices will be honored in the block schedule process. Should conditions make it necessary to deviate from current practices, the JCB instructional staff (PCSTA members, principal and vice-principal) and/or the EJD instructional staff (PCSTA members, principal and vice-principal) will have the right to vote whether to continue with block scheduling or return to the traditional schedule. 2. JCB and EJD will each adopt an alternating-day block schedule in which each block will meet every other day. 3. A block shall be defined as an instructional period not to exceed 84 continuous minutes. A split block shall be defined as an instructional period not exceeding 84 minutes, interrupted by a lunch break. A half block shall be defined as an instructional period equal to half the number of minutes in a block. 4. Teachers will be provided with one full block of planning/preparation time each day, during which they will not be assigned to any other duties. 5. Teachers shall not be assigned to more than 2 ½ continuous instructional/duty blocks on any day unless the teacher willingly volunteers to do 3 continuous blocks. If it remains necessary to schedule some EJD teachers with back-to-back planning and study halls during the first and second blocks of the day, even if only every other day, this schedule will be rotated among all grade levels and special areas at EJD from year to year. 6. Teachers of science courses with labs will be able to schedule up to one half of one block in each four-day cycle as student study time. Teachers will have flexibility as to scheduling what day in each cycle will include this study time. Teachers will have flexibility to use this time as instructional time when they deem it appropriate.