Common Middle School Experience

The District is building on work done over the last five years. This current process began in the Fall of 2019 when, at the direction of Superintendent Don Grotting, Deputy Superintendent Ginny Hansmann and Executive Administrator for Middle Schools Ken Struckmeier convened a group of building leaders and central office administrators. The goal of the committee was to review the work completed between 2014-2018 and to make recommendations to meet the objectives stated by Superintendent Grotting. The group met nearly every week between September 2019 and December 2019 to research, strategize, and discuss the courses and schedules that would best meet the needs of students in Beaverton middle schools.

The following people served on the Common Middle School Experience Committee in the fall of 2019:

• Shannon Anderson, Principal, Cedar Park Middle School
• Jon Bridges, Administrator for Accountability
• Thao Do-Gwilliam, Assistant Principal, Stoller Middle School
• Jon Franco, Executive Administrator for High Schools & Option Schools
• Jared Freeman, Principal, Meadow Park Middle School
• Ginny Hansmann, Deputy Superintendent
• Jessica Jones, Budget Manager
• Toshiko Maurizio, Administrator for Multilingual Programs
• Pat McCreery, Administrator for Equity
• John Peplinski, PK-12 Administrator for Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment
• Susan Rodriguez, Administrator for Human Resources
• Curtis Semana, Principal, Highland Park Middle School
• Brian Sica, PK-12 Administrator for Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment
• Ken Struckmeier, Executive Administrator for Middle Schools

The Committee began their work by examining the work that was done by previous committees and groups between 2014 and 2019. The previous work to align middle school courses and schedules include:

• 2014-2015 Community Work Group
  • Students, Families, Teachers, and Administrators
• 2015-2018 Middle School Administrator Work Group
• 2018-2019 Middle School Principal Work Group

The Common Middle School Experience Committee spent time examining the work that was completed in 2014-2019. In addition, they deliberated on these topics:

• The Humanities Model to deliver English Language Arts and Social Studies curriculum.
• Oregon Senate Bill 4, which amended ORS 329.496 and students receive physical education 225 minutes per week in grades 6 – 8. Every school district is to be in full compliance for K – 5 (6) in 2020-21 school year, and for grades 6 – 8 in the 2022-23 school year.
• Middle School Philosophy and Teaming
• Focus on Literacy
• Focus on Mathematics
• A common experience for students
• Exploration in a Common Menu of Elective Courses
  • Physical Education and Health (Required)
  • World Language (Spanish)
  • Fine Arts: Visual Arts, Band, Choir, Drama
  • Technology
  • Intervention and Support: Resource Room, ELL, AVID, Intervention
• Teaming to bridge the transition from Elementary to High School (Teaming refers to the practice of pairing a group of teachers with a group of students.)

1. A common middle school experience

All middle schools will adopt the same schedule and course offerings. The length of core and elective subject area class periods will match from school to school. Any future changes to the schedule or course offerings will be adopted at a district level.

2. Developmentally appropriate class length

Class length will not be excessively long or short to prevent ineffective use of school time.

3. Meet PE requirements

The common middle school schedule will be in alignment with legally required PE minutes.

4. Student Choice

All students will have the opportunity to take at least two electives of their choosing in addition to PE.

5. Quality electives

All students will have the opportunity to engage in at least one, year-long elective course that meets daily. This includes daily world language, theatre, visual arts, band, choir and technology.

6. Equitable access

Students receiving intervention, ELD, SPED, AVID, or other services will also be able to take PE and at least one other daily, year-round elective of their choice.

The committee developed four schedule options. The next phase of this process is to receive feedback on these options from staff, parents and students.

Schedule Option A: Six Periods

Sample Schedule

Period 1: 70 minutes, Humanities
Period 2: 70 minutes, Math
Period 3: 70 minutes, Science
Lunch
Period 4: 45 minutes, PE/Health
Period 5: 45 minutes, Elective
Period 6: 45 Minutes, Core Plus/Extension

Summary Information - Schedule Option A: Six Periods

Six-period day (70 minute cores and 45 minute electives)

• In Schedule A, students have six periods and the length of the period varies.
• Students receive 70 minutes of instruction in Humanities, Math, and Science.
• Students take PE/Health for 45 minutes each day.
• Students have one elective course. It meets daily.
• Students have one Core Plus/Extension course. The instruction comes from Core teachers.
• Core teachers (Humanities, Math, Science) teach 3 sections of their subject, and one section of Core Plus/Extension.
• Core teachers have 45 minutes of daily plan time. In addition, they have an additional 45 minutes with alternating days of plan and directed collaboration.
• Teachers of PE/Health and other electives teach 6 sections of their subject.
• Teachers of PE/Health and other electives have 45 minutes of daily plan and 37 minutes of Supervision/Collaboration.

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Schedule Option B: Seven Periods

Sample Schedule:

Period 1: 48 minutes, Humanities
Period 2: 48 minutes, Humanities
Period 3: 48 minutes, Science
Lunch
Period 4: 48 minutes, Math
Period 5: 48 minutes, PE/Health
Period 6: 48 Minutes, Elective
Period 7: 48 Minutes, Elective

Summary Information - Schedule Option B: Seven Periods

Seven-period day (All classes 48 minutes)

• In Schedule B, students have seven periods and the length of the period is constant at 48 minutes.
• Students receive 96 minutes of instruction in Humanities.
• All other courses meet for 48 minutes per day.
• Students have two elective courses. They meet daily.
• Students could still have Enrichment with instruction from Core teachers.
• Core teachers (Humanities, Math, Science) teach 6 sections of their subject. Schools could reduce the number of sections and assign Core Plus.
• Core teachers have 48 minutes of daily plan time.
• Teachers of PE/Health and other electives teach 6 sections of their subject.
• Teachers of PE/Health and other electives have 48 minutes of daily plan time.

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Summary Information - Schedule Option C: Seven Course, Six Periods

Seven Courses, Six Periods (All classes 57 minutes)

• This schedule maintains the number of courses a student takes but reduces the number of periods each day.
• Six classes meet each day.
• A floating 7th period moves through the student day and replaces other classes.
• Every period meets six out of 7 days.
• In Schedule C, students have seven periods and the length of the period is constant at 57 minutes.
• Students receive 114 minutes of instruction in Humanities on 5 out of 7 school days. They receive 57 minutes of instruction on 2 out of 7 school days.
• All other courses meet for 57 minutes on 6 out of 7 school days.
• Students have two elective courses. They meet on 6 out of 7 school days.
• Students could still have Enrichment with instruction from Core teachers.
• Core teachers (Humanities, Math, Science) teach 6 sections of their subject. Schools could reduce the number of sections and assign Core Plus.
• Core teachers have 57 minutes of plan time on 6 out of 7 school days.
• Teachers of PE/Health and other electives teach 6 sections of their subject.
• Teachers of PE/Health and other electives have 57 minutes of plan time on 6 out of 7 school days.

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Summary Information: Schedule Option D: Eight Periods

Eight Periods (All 42 Minutes)

• In Schedule D, students have eight periods and the length of the period is constant at 42 minutes.
• Students receive 84 minutes of instruction in Humanities.
• Students receive an average of 63 minutes of instruction in Math and Science on a two-day cycle.
• All other courses meet for 42 minutes
• Students have two elective courses.
• Humanities teachers instruct 3 sections.
• Math and Science teachers instruct 4 sections.
• Students could still have Enrichment with instruction from Core teachers. This assignment would alter the number of sections for the teacher.
• All other teachers instruct 6 sections.
• Teachers would have 42 minutes of daily Plan.
• Teachers would also have 42 minutes of Plan and directed collaboration time.

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While there was a staff and community engagement component of the process in 2014-2015, we realize that current staff, parents and students have not had an opportunity to be engaged in this new phase of the process.

Staff Listening & Learning Session

Middle school administrators conducted listening & learning sessions with staff the week of January 21st. 

Family Listening & Learning Session

Family listening and learning sessions will take place at all comprehensive middle schools on Thursday, February 6, 2020 from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Common Middle School Experience Decision

November 24, 2020

Dear BSD Community,

In 2014, a task force was convened to evaluate and make recommendations for implementing a set of common middle school courses and a consistent bell schedule across all middle schools in the Beaverton School District — otherwise known as the Common Middle School Experience. In the six years that followed, hundreds of administrators, staff members, parents and students were involved in the process. Most recently, in January 2020, the District held Parent Listening Sessions at each of the eight comprehensive middle schools. During that month, teachers and community members took surveys to gauge their academic priorities and their support for three proposed schedules. Just as Superintendent Don Grotting was about to make his final recommendation in March, schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are two main issues that the District is trying to address:

• Right now, course offerings vary from one middle school to another across the district. That’s especially true when it comes to electives. The District believes that all students — regardless of where they live or what schools they attend — should have access to the same quality education and opportunities.
• There is no consistent bell schedule at middle schools, meaning class lengths vary. For example, one student may receive 85 minutes of math instruction per day, while another student receives 57 minutes. When viewed through an equity lens, the District believes all students should be able to access the same amount of instruction, regardless of location.

Superintendent Grotting has spent several months evaluating recommendations from principals, feedback from teachers and comments from the public. He has decided to move forward with the following schedule at all BSD middle schools:

Sample 8-Period Day for Students

Minutes	Period	A Day	B Day
42	1	PE/Health
42	2	Elective 1
42	3	Elective 2
30	Lunch	Lunch
42	4	Language Arts
42	5	Social Studies
42	6	Science
42	7	Science	Math
42	8	Math

Here’s what he believes to be the benefits of this schedule:

• The schedule divides Humanities (taught as a single course in some schools) into two separate classes: Language Arts and Social Studies. This split was favored by 67% of Humanities teachers and community members who responded to surveys. A separate Social Studies class allows for a more robust civics education.
• The schedule allows for additional instruction in Science and Math.
• The schedule maximizes choice, allowing students to choose two electives. Students will be able to more fully explore world languages, visual arts, band, choir, theater and technology.
• The schedule allows for students who require interventions or who elect to take AVID to still be able to access an additional elective.
• The schedule is an effective use of the school day with class period lengths that are developmentally appropriate and not too long.

With any schedule, there are drawbacks:

• Students will need to track whether it’s an A or B day.
• State law requires students in grades 6-8 to receive 225 minutes/week of Physical Education instruction for the entire school year. Under this schedule, students would receive 210 minutes per week. However, schools will be required to find alternative ways to make up the remaining 15 minutes/week through brain/movement breaks and lunchtime activities.

The new schedule will take effect at the start of the 2021-22 school year. You may be asking, “given the upheaval of the current school year, why make this decision now?” We recognize that — especially with the recent middle school boundary adjustment announcement — middle school families and staffs are being asked to deal with a lot of change. However, in order to be ready for next school year, planning must start in January. We strongly believe that a consistent schedule and a consistent set of course offerings are in the best interest of all BSD students. Therefore, we need to push forward.

Superintendent Grotting extends his gratitude to the hundreds of people who have been involved in this challenging process. Thank you for your interest and dedication.