LaFollette's four block schedule: good or bad?

When the four block schedule began at LaFollette a few years ago, the MMSD praised its succeses:

Under the new "four block" schedule, La Follette High School students are missing school less, are better behaved and are taking tougher courses, all of which is adding up to better academic performance, an analysis of first quarter data shows. Press release, December 17, 1997.

La Follette High School students flourished during the first year of the school's four block schedule, a year-end summary reports. Press release, September 9, 1998

a continuing study of the Four Block Schedule at La Follette High School reveals the innovative program has been achieving an increase in the number of students named to the honor roll, an increase in overall grade point averages, and an increase in the number of students achieving perfect attendance. The number of suspensions has decreased as well as the number of habitually truant students. The year-end survey among students, parents and teachers last May overwhelmingly reported favorable sentiments by all three groups. Board minutes, September 18, 1998

The board minutes above seem to be the last positive remarks about the four-block schedule on the MMSD Web site.

Has the MMSD done any recent analysis similar to that reported in the first year or two of the schedule? If so, what does the data show? If not, the administration seems to want to cut the four-block schedule without any basis, other than all of the high schools should be identical. And what's the basis for saying they should all be the same?

Posted by Ed Blume at December 21, 2006 2:55 PM
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