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Committee recommends daily grade-level English for 7th grade; board hears seventh update on middle-school schedule
Summary
A committee recommended keeping the division—s existing AB block middle-school schedule but adding daily grade-level English for seventh grade (advanced classes would remain on block). The recommendation includes gradual implementation and identified staffing and accountability considerations.
The York County School Board heard its seventh update on middle-school bell-schedule review on Jan. 13 and received a committee recommendation to keep the current AB block schedule while adding daily grade-level English for seventh graders in order to increase reading and writing instructional time.
Process and priorities: Dr. Sherlock (presenter) summarized the multi-year process that began in 2022 with focus groups, committee work in 2023 and subsequent vetting in 2024. The committee established 11 criteria and prioritized: (1) enabling interventions within the bell schedule, (2) providing daily math, and (3) providing daily grade-level English.
Recommendation details: The committee recommended retaining the AB block format but moving grade-level English 7 to a daily schedule; advanced 7 and 8 courses and grade-level English 8 would remain on the AB rotating block. The committee proposed a phased implementation, targeting 2025-26 for the initial change, and estimated the move could require approximately six to eight additional staff positions (budget-dependent).
Considerations and limits: Committee members flagged two constraints. First, the change has staffing and budget implications (additional licensed staff would be needed). Second, Virginia—s revised state accountability framework is still settling; the committee said it did not want to change grade 8 placement until implications for advanced-course accounting under the new accountability rules are finalized. Dr. Sherlock said the recommendation intentionally limited changes to grade-level English 7 for the coming year to avoid premature shifts before new accountability criteria are finalized.
Why it matters: The committee said daily grade-level English is intended to restore instructional time similar to what students receive in sixth grade and to better support writing instruction and interventions targeted at grades 7 and 8.
What—s next: The board offered general support and asked staff to continue planning, refine staffing and budget estimates and return with an implementation plan.
