K-8, Quarters to Trimesters?

Thanks to the reader who forwarded along a document outlining a request for input from parents regarding a shift from four traditional marking periods to three trimesters for grades K-8. Here is the info:

Trimesters: What Do You Think?
By Jennifer Allen, NASD Advisory Council Member

At the February 26, 2009 Nazareth Area School District Advisory Council, the idea of trimester grade reporting was discussed. The Nazareth Area School District administration is considering switching the Kindergarten through eighth grade marking periods from quarters to trimesters. Currently, students in these grades receive report cards four times a year (in October, early January, early March and at the end of the year.) Parent teacher conferences are held twice a year in late November and March. Under a trimester system, students would receive three report cards, in November, March and at the end of the year. The parent teacher conferences would be able to stay in November and March but now be aligned exactly with the marking periods.

The switch to a trimester system would have the following advantages: The amount of usable teaching time would be more balanced between the marking periods. Under the quarter system, the first quarter loses valuable time to the process of settling in students. The second quarter has the fall and winter breaks which disrupt teaching time. The third quarter is almost completely uninterrupted except for snow days. Yet the fourth quarter loses teaching time for the PSSA testing. Under a trimester system the amount of teaching time could be more fairly distributed. The first marking period would still have the beginning-of-the-year adjustment, the second trimester would have the fall and winter breaks and the final marking period would have the PSSA testing. The parent teacher conferences would be aligned with the end of the marking periods. The amount of student testing time would decrease. Many parents have expressed concerns regarding how much time is spent in the classroom testing the students, as opposed to teaching them. The number of end of marking period testing times would be reduced from four to three. The administration is currently planning the implementation of a new student information system that will allow elementary school parents to use the internet to view all of their child’s assignment grades as they are posted. This will help to alleviate concerns that might be raised about not being as up-to-date on a student’s progress due to dropping from four report cards to three. However, it is important to note that this feature will not be 100% available and ready at the start of the school year. The administration wants to make sure the teachers and staff are entirely comfortable with the system so that when it does become available, parents can be confident that the information posted is complete and accurate.

So, what do you think? The administration would like to get your input and hear your thoughts and concerns regarding the possibility of switching to a trimester grading system. To give your feedback or ask questions, please contact Michael Roth, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs at mroth at nazarethasd dot org. Please let us know your thoughts by March 31, 2009. Thank you.