The purpose of this research study was to determine the effectiveness of four different class schedules on students' academic achievement on end-of-course testing and whether a specific class schedule is more conducive to student academic achievement on state-mandated standardized tests. Georgia Department of Education provided archived public…

Research shows a math achievement gap for at-risk and economically-disadvantaged students in the United States. To address this issue, a Texas school district implemented a 90-minute math block-scheduling program with 8th grade students. Shaped by the academic learning time and social justice theories, the purpose of this quantitative program…

This quantitative study was designed to determine the impact of course gap--the time period between semesters in which students take a particular course--on student achievement in mathematics. The testing instrument used was the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), given annually to all students in Grades 3 through 11. The study…

We use a regression-discontinuity design to study the effects of double blocking sixth-grade students in reading and mathematics on their achievement across three years of middle school. To identify the effect of the intervention, we use sharp cutoffs in the test scores used to assign students to double blocking. We find large, positive, and…

Limited studies have been conducted on the relationship between scheduling formats and academic performance of high school students. At the target high school, students underperform on standardized tests in English language arts (ELA) and math. The purpose of this causal comparative quantitative study was to compare the means of ELA and math test…

In the 1990's there was a movement by high schools to change from a traditional scheduling format to a block scheduling format (Canady & Rettig, 1995) in an effort to improve student achievement. Reports such as "A Nation at Risk" and "Prisoners of Time" indicated time was an important factor (NCEE, 1983; NCTL, 1994). While…

Research was conducted to determine what impact school organization and classroom dynamics had on student achievement. Results from standardized benchmark tests found no significant differences in scores across all schools and content areas; yet, end of course standardized measures indicated that students in sites employing block scheduling…

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact block scheduling has on (a) student academic achievement, discipline, and attendance, and (b) administrator, teacher, and student perceptions. The study compared 2005-2010 data from a high school utilizing the A/B block schedule and a high school under a traditional schedule, in one suburban…

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect that alternative block scheduling has on the retention of English language skills and student attendance rate. In addition, the study explored the difference between teachers' preferences of alternative block scheduling versus traditional scheduling as it relates to years of teaching. The…

Because of increasing student enrollment, a new school was formed in a small low-income Southern California school district. Teachers could choose to transfer to the new school or remain at the existing school. Over five years, quantitative analyses of demographic data showed little differences between the two schools across the years except for a…

Corbin High School is located in a small, rural community of approximately 8,000 residents in southeastern Kentucky, midway between Lexington and Knoxville, Tennessee. The mission of Corbin High School is to provide opportunities that will help each student prepare for a successful transition to college, the workplace and life. This report…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ten years of traditional scheduling compared to ten years of the modified 4 x 4 block scheduling on the academic achievement of high school students. The study compared twenty-five years of data at one large suburban high school analyzing the graduation rate, SAT scores, BSAP/HSAP scores, the…

Results are presented from a mixed-method investigation into the effects of Block Schedule on student self-efficacy, attitude, and instructional practices within the context of mathematics. Students exposed to block schedule showed no change in attitude toward mathematics, whereas those on a traditional schedule demonstrated a significant…

This review focuses on 128 high schools in Georgia that have completed at least one full year under block scheduling. Information presented includes scores on the Georgia High School Graduation Tests, Scholastic Assessment Test scores, and Advanced Placement examination scores. The review is merely a summary of selected descriptive information,…

In this analysis of 58 empirical studies of high school block scheduling, the authors report findings in and across five groupings. Within groups, data were inconsistent regarding whether teachers' practices changed, but teachers believed that staff development was necessary to teach in a block schedule. Block scheduling appeared to increase…