A Comparison Between Alternate Block And Traditional Scheduling On Student Achievement And Selected Variables At Middle School Campuses In Selected Education Service Centers In Texas PDF Download

ABSTRACT: The researcher conducted an ex post facto study using archival test data to answer the research question, "What are the relationships of varying periods of time among middle schools using the block scheduling model and the academic achievement of sixth grade students in reading and mathematics?" The independent variable in the study was school schedule (traditional or block scheduling model), the dependent variables were students' academic growth in reading and mathematics as measured by test scores on North Carolina's End-of Grade Tests from 1996-2000. Independent group t-tests were used to test for significant differences in the mean growth scores in both reading and mathematics between the traditional and the block scheduled schools for three years after implementing the organizational change at the sixth grade level in five middle schools. The researcher's findings indicated that sixth grade students who received mathematical instruction in a flexible block model had statistically significant achievement differences at the 0.01 levels, when compared to traditionally scheduled sixth grade math students. Conversely, sixth grade students who experienced a change from traditional scheduling to block scheduling in reading did not obtain a statistically significant result (0.01 level of significance) at four of the five middle schools. One of the five schools did show statistical significance for the second and third year of block scheduling.