The Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools District (CHCCS) recently held a board meeting on May 2, 2024. Administrators proposed a new schedule that would be implemented at all high schools within the district starting from the 2025-26 school year. The new schedule, called 4 X 4 block, would be a significant shift from the schedules currently in place. Instead of the usual 7 courses in an academic year, students would take 8 courses. In a 4 X 4 schedule, students would take 4 of their classes during the first semester, while the other 4 would be taken during semester two. Final exams, such as AP exams and EOCs, would still occur at the end of the school year.

If the vote, which will occur on May 16, approves the new schedule, it will not only affect those currently at the high schools, but also future students.

No matter the class you take, block schedule will be overwhelming and stressful since it condenses a year's worth of material into one semester, reducing the time for comprehensive understanding and mastery. Moreover, it limits opportunities for diverse course selection and can disrupt continuity in sequential subjects. Many students already struggle to focus during the 50-minute long classes, so increasing the length to 90 minutes will be even more detrimental. For teachers, it means less time to cover material and more pressure to rush through lessons, causing stress and strain on our valued educators. It will require teachers to instruct four classes per day, each lasting approximately 90 minutes, which is not conducive to effective teaching or learning. Research from the American Psychological Association suggests that longer class periods can lead to decreased student engagement and increased teacher burnout. We need to prioritize the mental health and well-being of our students and teachers.

The proposed schedule will adversely affect Advanced Placement (AP) classes. This scheduling system, which will cram a year's worth of material into one semester, is not conducive to the level of learning required for AP courses. For those taking an AP class in the first semester, it will create long gaps between when a course ends and when the AP exam takes place, leading to potential knowledge loss. Because preparation for AP exams start almost one month in advance, students who take an AP class during the second semester will have even less learning time on top of the limited time given per semester. District administration has said that with a 4 X 4 schedule, more students will be able to take classes at Durham Tech, a local community college. However, the credits earned from there will only transfer to in-state schools, limiting students’ academic potential to only what North Carolina has to offer. We believe that CHCCS students deserve an education system that supports their academic growth and prepares them effectively for college-level work.

Language programs require consistent practice throughout the school year. By only taking these classes in one semester, the long period of time between academic years would be detrimental to student’s learning. Without utilizing their skills daily, many students could quickly lose the skills they learnt. For language courses, the content that is covered is so detailed that not only would it cause stress to students by only having half a year to study it, but it would also limit the time for properly learning the skills. This creates a significant gap for language learning continuity. Consistent exposure and practice are crucial for language acquisition and proficiency. With the current block scheduling, students can potentially have an eight-month gap between their language classes, which can lead to substantial regression in their acquired skills. 

Block scheduling poses significant challenges for arts programs that are similar to those of language programs. In band and orchestra classes, students often perform in multiple concerts per academic year. With a semester class, performance opportunities will be minimized, music variety will be limited, and gaps between music classes will hinder continuity and progress for students involved. A study conducted by the National Association for Music Education shows that block scheduling can lead to decreased enrollment in music classes due to time constraints and conflicts with other courses. The National Association for Music Education also reports that consistent participation is crucial for skill development and overall learning experience in music education. Schedules like these can limit students' ability to explore and develop their artistic skills over an extended period. The arts are not just extracurricular activities; they foster creativity, critical thinking, and emotional development among students. Participation in art programs positively impacts student achievement, and the implementation of this schedule will have adverse effects on these individuals.

The 4 X 4 block scheduling system can cause significant challenges for students with sports and personal issues who often miss classes due to commitments. Because students are expected to learn a year's worth of material in one semester, they will miss more class time in a block schedule than typical because classes are longer; thus, missing one lesson on a given day will be equivalent to missing two. Imagine how much class time they would miss if they missed one week of school! Block scheduling will cause significant harm to students who participate in sports and other extracurricular activities: since they often miss classes due to their commitments, the proposed system can lead to them falling behind academically. For students who are absent frequently due to health issues or other reasons beyond their control, catching up becomes an insurmountable task. Research from Stanford University suggests that block scheduling may not be beneficial for all students and can exacerbate achievement gaps (Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis). We believe that students deserve an education system that supports their lives, needs, and interests without compromising on academic success. 

We believe that CHCCS should not implement the 4 X 4 block schedule for these reasons among others. To prioritize continuous learning opportunities for all subjects, support all areas of learning, preserve comprehensive art education, and better serve all students' needs, we urge the school board to not consider this schedule format. 

Please sign this petition to help save the educational future of Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

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