Concerns with Block Scheduling

The following have all been established as drawbacks of block scheduling:

• lower content retention from one level of a subject to the next


• Difficulty in placement of transfer students


• longer lecture periods if varied instructional methods aren't implemented


• long lapses between the first and second courses of a sequenced subjects such as math and foreign languages


• Challenges with scheduling of AP classes


• When students are absent it is difficult to make up all of the work


• Finding substitutes who can successfully master longer periods makes teacher absences more problematic


• Students can't pay attention for longer periods

References:

Cromwell, S. (2006). Block scheduling: A solution or a problem? Education World. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin029.shtml

Queen, J. A. (2000, November). Block scheduling revisited [Electronic version]. Phi Delta Kappan International , 82(3). Retrieved on July 18, 2008 from: http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/kque0011.htm