The Aiken County Board of Education is expected tonight to approve a seven-period day schedule at the high school to accommodate increased requirements for graduation. The pilot program will mean an extra period in a traditional six-period class schedule. Because graduation requirements have changed from 20 units to 24, school officials claim a traditional school day won't guarantee that students will graduate on a four-year plan.
State law requires that all freshmen take an additional math, science and computer course.
If students have to repeat classes because of failure or have to enroll in developmental programs to meet standards on the state testing program, they must first attend summer school to graduate on time. Beginning this fall, the remaining six high schools in the system will develop a seven-period schedule to be implemented next year. Under the proposal, many teachers will continue to teach five classes and teachers picking up an extra class will be paid more. However, a teacher's total class load will not exceed 150 students per day. At least eight teachers will be affected by the extended class day, meaning an extra 55 minutes will be added to their day, said Lyndon Carey, assistant superintendent.