Today's school schedule must be modified to respond to the great changes that have reshaped American life outside school. Educators do not have the time they need to do their job properly. Mastering world-class standards will require more time for almost all students. The Design Flaw Decades of school improvement efforts have foundered on a fundamental design flaw, the assumption that learning can be doled out by the clock and defined by the calendar. Research confirms common sense.
Some students take three to six times longer than others to learn the same thing.
Our usage of time virtually assures the failure of many students. Under today's practices, high-ability students are forced to spend more time than they need on a curriculum developed for students of moderate ability. Many become bored, unmotivated, and frustrated. They become prisoners of time. Struggling students are forced to move with the class and receive less time than they need to master the material.