Term of Award

Summer 2015

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development

Committee Chair

Jason LaFrance

Committee Member 1

Bryan Griffin

Committee Member 2

Paul "Mac" Brinson

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how schools utilizing block scheduling and traditional scheduling models differ in achievement levels on the five Georgia End-of-Course Exams (EOCT) and the Georgia High School Graduation Writing test (GHSWT) at two high schools in ruralSouth Georgia. The researcher will investigated if there is a differential benefit in terms of higher EOCT/GHSWT scores during block or traditional scheduling when considering demographic variables student gender, race, or SES. No experimentation occurred as the study relied on historical data. Both high schools were examined individually; comparing the five EOCT’s and the GHSWT under the block schedule during the 2011-2012 school with the same exams under the 7-period traditional schedule during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school terms. The design comparison for this quasi-experimental study was a 2-group non-random selection design comparing each school to itself rather to each other. Each school is very different in terms of student demographics; therefore the examination with each school is imperative. This study used quantitative statistics so that clear concrete data is used to show evidence to which schedule students performed best on from a standardized assessment view. In addition, descriptive statistics was used including means and standard deviations. A multi-way ANOVA with 6 factors (schedule, sex, race, SES, classification, and school year) was used to determine if a significant difference existed between the students instructed on a 4 x 4 block schedule and students instructed on a seven-period day traditional schedule. The multi-way ANOVA allowed for testing of interactions among predictors. The interactions helped show if any specific sub-groups benefited more operating under one scheduling model than another. After an in-depth study and analysis of a Test score comparison between block and traditional scheduling of two schools and twelve subject areas, the results indicate a significant difference in mean scores by school year in two of the twelve subjects. Writing scores at School 1 were significantly different indicating the change from block to a traditional schedule was a positive move, and Biology scores at School 2 were significantly different indicating the change from block to a traditional schedule was a positive move. However, at both schools in all twelve areas, the overall mean test score slightly increased each year indicating the possibility the move from block scheduling to a more traditional scheduling model could be positive given more time.

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