Sustainable block schedule with embedded planning and professional learning time to retain teachers¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Oakland International uses an A/B block schedule with 55- or 105-minute blocks that gives teachers "approximately 90 minutes embedded in each school day and an additional hour after students are released early on Wednesdays" for planning and learning—at least 10 paid hours per week scheduled during the school day. Teachers also observe peers weekly in "critical friendship" triads, and department teams meet weekly, all within contracted hours. The report links these structures to staff sustainability and a teacher retention rate of roughly 80%, on par with the district.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• A/B block schedule configuration with extended class blocks
• Wednesday early release to provide professional learning time

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• High school teachers of newcomer students

Target Learning Goals¶

• Teacher professional learning and effectiveness
• Staff retention and sustainability

Related Strategies¶

• Daily Class Schedules

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Charlie Thompson. (2023). Oakland International High School: A Thriving Community School for Oakland's Newcomer Students. Learning Policy Institute. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED642542