Most high school students must have an empty slot in their schedule

If all students were allowed to take a class every period that classes are offered, class sizes would be too big, the district says.

But the legal affairs director of the Oregon Department of Education, lawyer Cindy Hunt, says Portland's plan won't meet the state requirement that high school students be offered 990 hours of instruction per year.

Schools can't tell students to work independently during their free period -- go to the library, try to talk to a counselor, go to the computer lab or just go home, as Portland is advising students -- and then count that as instructional time, Hunt said. At a minimum they would need to offer a structured study hall supervised by an adult, she said.
High school parents have expressed displeasure with the limits on course-taking, saying students won't be as well prepared for college as students from other school districts without such limits.

District officials say they are trying to ensure that the courses students can take are of high enough quality and small enough class size, given the tight budget for next school year.

Students who have special learning needs or are behind on credits needed to graduate would be permitted to take classes during all eight periods, they say.

Nearly all Portland high schools now operate on a seven-period schedule. And 40 percent of students -- including the vast majority of seniors -- choose to take fewer than seven classes even though they are offered that many.

Under the new schedule, schools will offer eight classes, each of which will meet for 92 minutes on alternating days, the district says.

Schools can count up to 30 hours of non-class activities including teacher training sessions, parent conferences and assemblies toward the 990 hours, but must offer at least 960 hours of true instruction.

Posted in: Director,lawyer Cindy Hunt,Oregon Department of Education,schoolschedule