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The Unlocking Time site includes just about everything you could want/need when considering adopting a new master schedule for your school and/or district.

This can be exciting, inspiring, and overwhelming.

We recommend starting with these resources:

• Video Series: Leading Through the Master Schedule

• Digital Tools: Sketch-A-School

• ERS School Scheduling Tools
  • Three Steps to a Strategic Schedule
    • Step 1: Reflect on Current School Schedule 
    • Step 2: Explore Scheduling Strategies 
    • Step 3: Design a Strategic Schedule 

• Schedule Library

Time Strategies

These are some strategies that can work within different master schedule models. These are NOT master schedules.

Not all of these strategies may work for your school/district, but some may as-is or with a little rethinking. Maybe you’re already implementing some of these strategies. Maybe you’ve tried one/some in the past but moved away from it/them (if they really didn’t work for your school community, then skip them, but if there’s a chance they could work now, they might be worth considering again).

All of the strategies are available here, but we’ve organized them by grade level for you for quicker access (middle school, MS, is included as secondary). Yes, there is only one elementary-only strategy, but all the “all grades” strategies apply for elementary as well. Because secondary scheduling is more complex, it comes with more challenges, but also more options to strategize how you divide up the day, week, and year.

Click the links below for details and resources for each strategy.

ALL GRADES

• Use an alternate enrichment schedule to create PD time (Note: may be NA for HS)

• Teachers partner with school administration to create quality master schedules

• Dynamically re-group based on formative assessment

• Designate time for students to explore their passions through Genius Hour or Passion Projects

• Hold recess before lunch (Note: NA for HS; may be NA for some MS)

• Reduce summer learning loss by moving to a year round calendar

• Use virtual learning days where students are not on campus

• Implement blended learning as either a portion of a day or for one day a week

• Once per term or annually dedicate a week for interdisciplinary projects

• Increase the length of the school day

• Implement student late start or early dismissal one day a week for PD or staff meetings

• Try a concept-progress model

ELEMENTARY

• Coordinate shared specials staff to create schedules for weekly grade-level teacher collaboration

SECONDARY

• Give teams professional time and engage student learning through “PLUS” days

• Leverage the master schedule to improve equity and access for students

• Incoming 9th graders select courses through a high school site visit

• Adjust the senior year schedule to simulate a college experience (Note: HS only)

• Use non-teaching staff to free up teachers for collaborative PD

• Implement a ninth-grade academy to support transition to high school (Note: HS only)

• Offer internships to connect students to the workplace and community

• Implement a regular flex time period

• Increase focus and relieve anxiety in students by starting school later in the day

• Limit the number of AP classes students can take (Note: HS only)

• Provide all students access to college classes (Note: HS only)

• Utilize a short, intensive learning session at the conclusion of the term or school year

• Add more class periods to offer students increased course choice and teachers additional prep time

• Use trimester terms to offer more classes

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