ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND HIGH STAKES TESTING:

SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOM VS. DEPARTMENTALIZED CLASSES

BONNIE HERNANDEZCIED 5383

July 20, 2011

PURPOSE

The goal of this research is to determine at what grade should departmentalizing classes begin at the elementary school level.

SIGNIFICANCE

The trend to transition students at the elementary level into a departmentalized setting is due in part to the high stakes in state testing and accountability.

Departmentalized classes are set up where core content classes are taught by specialized teachers.

What are the trade-offs taking place with this trend, are students prepared for this transition?

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (2001)

“The purpose of this title is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.”

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/107-110.pdf

• General Content• Students remain

with one teacher

Self-Contained

• NCLB Act (2001)• High Stakes

Testing• Accountability

NCLB • Specialized teachers

• Rotation of classes

Departmentalization

W H AT I S T H E R I G H T S E TT I N G F O R YO U R C L A S S ?

CLASSROOM SETTING

©2008 Biola University

STUDY

Elementary School teachers are typically certified as Generalist. It is at the middle school and high school level where you will see more specialized certifications.

It is cost effective to move from self-contained to departmentalized having existing teachers trained in one core subject, rather than hiring new staff (Hood, 2009).

Self-contained classes have the time and flexibility to teach critical thinking across subject areas (Hood, 2009).

How young is too young? At what age are students responsible enough to be able to make class rotation times effective.

Are teachers prepared to take on the responsibility of being accountable for a whole grade level?

CLASSROOM SETTING

Self-contained Departmentalized

Reading Writing Spelling HealthMath Science Social Studies

Reading Writing Spelling HealthMath Science Social Studies

THE SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOM

Self-Containe

d

Suitable for all grades

Flexibility

One set of classroom

rules

Accountability for one class

Community Feel

More personal

involvement

THE DEPARTMENTALIZED CLASSROOM

Departmentalized

Suitable for upper grades

Content Driven

Multiple sets of

classroom rules

Accountability for all

Easier transition to

middle schools

Less personal involvement

FINDINGS

Some students at the adolescent stage may experience academic and emotional declines when transitioning into middle school (Parker, 2009).

Elementary schools can ease this transition by implementing classroom rotations, at the very least the last grade before middle school.

The burden of accountability on all subjects tested is placing a lot of pressure on self-contained teachers, therefore, making it ideal to move towards departmentalization.

Students at the lower grades still require nurturing on a more personal level.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Elementary%20organizational%20structures%20and%20young%20adolescents'...-a0197989600

WHY NCLB IS IMPORTANT

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 20000

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Federal Spending on K-12 Education

$ Spent in billions

Numbers are approx.

http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/importance/edlite-index.html

CONCLUSION

Departmentalization in elementary schools is an indirect result of the NCLB act. The high stakes and accountability placed on states, districts, campuses, teachers, and students has left our education system in disarray.

Teachers at the third, fourth, and fifth grade level may advocate for departmentalized classes, specialization in core subjects can mean greater depth in teaching.

Students, however, may not be ready to make this transition, especially at the lower grades. Organizational skills and maturity may not yet be in place.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Basset, D. (2009, October 29). Platooning at the elementary level.[Blog post]. Retrieved from: http://greybrookbc.blogspot.com/2009/10/platooning-aat-elementary- level.html

Borislaw, A. (2009, October 28). Districts weigh pros and cons of departmentalizing elementary schools. Specialkids.com. Retrieved from: http://www.specialkids.com/my_weblog/2009/10/districts-weigh-pros-and- cons-of-departmentalizing-elementary-schools.html

Cheung Chan, T. Jarman, D. (2004, September/October). Departmentalize elementary schools. Principal. Retrieved from: http://www.naesp.org/resources/1/Principal/2004/S-Op70.pdf

Hood, L. (2009, November/December). Platooning instruction. Harvard Education Letter, 25(6). Retrieved from: http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/426

Parker, A. K. (2009, March 22). Elementary organizational structures and young adolescents' self-concept and classroom environment perceptions across the transition to middle school. The Free Library. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Elementary organizational structures and young adolescents'...-a0197989600

A blueprint for reform. (2011, May 27). US Department of Education. ed.gov. Retrieved from: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/publication_pg3.html#part3

Sec.1001. Statement of purpose.(2002, January 8). US Department of Education. ed.gov. PL107-110. Retrieved from: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/107-110.pdf

Why no child left behind is important to america.(n.d.).US Department of Education. ed.gov. Retrieved from: http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/importance/edlite-index.html