School Board approves Block Scheduling
Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, all secondary schools in Roanoke County will operate on block scheduling. The Roanoke County School Board approved the move to block scheduling at their Nov. 11, 2010 meeting.
Middle schools will move to a modified 4x4 block schedule. Under this new block schedule, all students will receive a 90-minute block of English and Math instruction each day for the entire year. Students also will receive a single block of social studies (or science) instruction each day for the entire semester followed by the SOL test for that subject at the end of the semester. Students will receive instruction in science (or social studies) for the second semester followed by the SOL tests for that subject, English and Math at the end of the school year.
High schools will move to a traditional eight A/B block schedule with the flexibility to include study halls according to school need. Under this schedule, students will receive instruction in four 90-minute periods one day (A), followed by instruction in four other 90-minute periods the next day (B). Currently, William Byrd High School operates under an eight A/B block schedule.
“With block scheduling, a portion of the daily schedule is divided into larger blocks of time which allows flexibility for more hands-on instructional activities,” said Roanoke County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Lorraine Lange.
(Last updated 12/1/10)