Secondary school scheduling is more than just a list of what courses are offered in which classrooms at what time. Strategically determining which courses are offered and at what levels affects how well students are prepared for life after graduation. And how staffing is matched to course enrollment can have significant financial impact on the budget. But, the complexity of building secondary schedules often prevents principals from doing what they know to be best for student learning.
When districts and/or schools set clear, coherent priorities and pair them with scheduling expertise, many highly-desired goals that previously seemed unattainable can in fact be achieved in virtually every school without increasing costs or lengthening the school day.
Olwen E. Herron, Ed.D."DMGroup helped us see schedules in ways we had never considered before. They were instrumental in helping our team analyze our schedules, identify impactful ways to adjust them, and help build buy-in from staff."
Our Approach
Based on our best practice research and years of experience, DMGroup partners with you through a multi-phase process to help you create a powerful new master schedule.
- Setting a vision for teaching and learning: DMGroup will work with your team to create a clear articulation of your goals, priorities, and values, while incorporating best practices.
- Review and revision of the scheduling process: DMGroup will help district and school leaders examine the current process of designing and building schedules and share ways to make the process more inclusive and align to district budgeting and staffing processes.
- Review of existing course offerings and analysis of staffing patterns: DMGroup will analyze the financial, staffing, and course efficiency of current schedules, including reviewing equity of offerings and incorporation of student choice and voice.
- Assistance and guidance building new schedules: DMGroup will analyze, review, and discuss scheduling alternatives and tradeoffs with central office leaders, school building leaders, teachers, and students and families.
We also recognize that change can be difficult. We therefore facilitate a change management process to help build buy-in for the recommended changes. The result is better schedules for students and staff that align with your school and district priorities and have the support of your stakeholders.
