Adair County High School students will be moving to a different form of class schedule after operating on a trimester system for the past two years.
ACHS Principal Troy Young and the site based decision making council decided by consensus to change from the trimester system to a six-period day. Young said the new schedule would allow for more time spent in the classroom and more consistency throughout the school year.
In the trimester system, a student’s class schedule changes three times throughout the year and students spend fewer days in each class. With the new system, students mostly keep the same schedule all year and students receive more instructional time.
“It’s something that gives us a little more consistency,” Young said. “In the trimester system you have to change things around three times a year. The six-period day gives us a little more focus.”
According to Young, the SBDM council made the change in order to better address common core standards and Senate Bill 1 (an overhaul of Kentucky’s education curriculum) changes implemented in 2011.
The commonwealth has joined 40 other states in changing its accountability model that significantly raises the minimum standards for students.
“The new accountability system based on national standards is forcing schools across the country to re-examine their schedules and instructional methods,” Young said.
Young explained that under a trimester schedule, students take five full-year courses in two semesters (roughly 24 weeks). Each class lasts for 70 minutes each day (140 hours per one hour course). With the six-period traditional schedule in place next year students will take most courses over a year-long period.
“The decision to change back to a 6-period day was not an easy one,” said Young. “In making its decision, the Adair County High School Site-Based Council understood that in the long run, this move is in the best interest of our students.”
Superintendent Alan Reed said he feels the new schedule is exciting and commended the ACHS council for its forward-thinking decision.
By Allison Cross
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