Cobb’s School Calendar and Student Achievement
By Jennifer Levitt

 

The 180 days set by Cobb’s school calendar will only improve student achievement to the extent this time is used for quality student instruction. Teacher training and parent-teacher conferences are crucial, but must be accomplished without sacrificing time that should be reserved for teaching. This school year our elementary and middle school students have 9 early release days. Compared with districts that do not allow early release, Cobb students miss the equivalent of 3 days of school.

Also, there are unintended consequences for making too many changes too quickly. At the elementary level, a new grading system has been introduced in addition to a new math curriculum. The reality is the quantity of training necessary for successful implementation of these reforms exceeds the amount of time Cobb has scheduled into the school calendar for teacher training.

At many elementary schools, training is now accomplished during the school day when teachers should be in the classroom instructing students. Substitute teachers cost money. In response, the District may be assuming liability by allowing parent volunteers, who have not had background checks and may have no formal training in education, to cover classes. Since repeatedly depriving students of quality instruction may decrease student achievement, the School Board must set priorities and limit how many reforms are introduced at once.

In conclusion, in reassessing the school calendar Cobb County should strive to maximize two limited resources: money and the time qualified teachers need to successfully increase student achievement.

If you would like Cobb's new calendar to have less shortened days, it is crucial for you to take a few minutes to respectfully express your opinion to your School Board representative after tonight's meeting:

 

Post 1 - Lynnda Crowder-Eagle lcrowder-eagle.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Post 2 - Holli Cash hcash.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Post 3 - David Morgan dmorgan.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Post 4 - Dr. John Abraham jabraham.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Post 5 - David Banks dbanks.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Post 6   Dr. John Crooks jcrooks.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Post 7 - Alison Bartlett abartlett.boardmember@cobbk12.org
If you need more information about your Post it can be found at http://www.cobbk12.org/board/index.htm

Additional information about School Schedule and Instructional time:

1. Elementary School Day report from Fairfax County Public Schools in VA, produced by the Facilities and Transportation Task Force in 2007.
2. Strategies to create non-instructional time for elementary school teachers. Governor Easley’s Teacher Working Conditions Initiative in North Carolina  Written by the Center for Teaching Quality in February 2007 for the

Teacher Working Conditions Advisory Board

 

Instructional Time

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