Why is the district making changes to elementary schedules?
Updates to the elementary schedule for next school year were made to better support student learning, wellbeing, and consistency across classrooms. Over the past year, teachers and school leaders shared that students need more time for reading, writing, and math, along with consistent science and foundational skills for learning. The new schedule helps meet those needs while also improving teacher collaboration and learning time, which directly benefits students.
Does this mean art, music, or PE are being cut?
No. Art, music, PE, and library remain a weekly part of every student’s schedule.
Students will still attend six specialist classes each week, including:
Music
Art
Physical Education (P.E.)
Library
Science
Foundations for Learning
What’s changing is the length and structure of those blocks, not their importance.
What will my child’s week actually look like?
Your child will:
Attend all specialist classes each week
Spend more time on reading, writing, and math (nearly one extra hour per week)
Have fewer transitions between classes, which means less lost learning time
Experience science and foundations for learning taught by specialists, providing consistency and depth
Why is there more time for reading, writing, and math?
Student learning data shows that students benefit from additional, focused time in these core subjects—especially math. The updated schedule adds nearly 55 minutes per week of core instruction, which adds up to almost 200 additional hours over a student’s elementary career.
What does the “Foundations for Learning” class look like in practice?
This course is designed to focus on skills students use every day, including:
Managing emotions and frustration
Working with others
Resolving conflicts
Setting goals and persevering through challenges
Building leadership and responsibility
Students receive:
A daily morning meeting in their classroom
A weekly lesson with a specialist
Skills are reinforced throughout the school day by all staff
Are PE minutes being reduced?
Weekly PE time is slightly adjusted, but students still meet state requirements. Many PE standards—such as teamwork, goal-setting, and self-management—are also taught during the Foundations for Learning lessons. This means students often practice the same skills in multiple settings, reinforcing learning rather than losing it.
Where else is learning being integrated?
Some learning happens in more than one place:
Art is embedded into literacy through the Wit & Wisdom curriculum
Library time increases, supporting reading and digital literacy standards
Science moves into dedicated lab spaces, providing hands-on, consistent instruction
Science content knowledge is built through specific units in language arts
Foundational skills are practiced across classrooms, PE, and specialist settings
This means students often get a “double dip” in key skills.
How does this support teachers—and why does that matter?
Teachers now have more consistent planning and collaboration time. This allows them to:
Align lessons across grade levels
Better support students who need extra help
Improve instruction for all learners
When teachers are supported, students benefit.
Will the district review these changes?
Yes. The district continuously collects data and feedback, evaluates the impact of changes, and reflects on decisions. If adjustments are needed, they will be made. This is a thoughtful step forward—not a final, unchangeable decision.