GRPS targets increased learning opportunities with trimester year

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

On September 2, Grand Rapids Public Schools launches its initial foray into a school year divided into three 12-week trimesters, instead of the traditional 16-week semesters. The change affects high schools, alternative high schools, and City Middle-High—some 5,500 students.

The result of nearly three years of research, GRPS sees trimesters as a way for schools to meet the increased graduation requirements of the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

Students will have fewer classes per day, which allows those who need to recover credits the time to do so. The new schedule also allows students the time to take more elective classes.

“We wanted to provide a structure so students who want to explore electives or students who need extra help or time will have the opportunities they need,” says Jane DeGroot, executive director for secondary schools.

Trimesters also allow students more time to pursue dual enrollment, through which they are enrolled in high school and college simultaneously.

“Many high school students start college at the sophomore level because of dual enrollment,” DeGroot notes. “It’s a win/win for the student and for the colleges and universities.”

The high schools also are implementing instructional reforms based on effort-based learning. Last year 32 teachers and principals received training in effort-based learning at the Institute for Learning (IFL) at the University of Pittsburgh.

“It used to be believed that by using the intellect I was born with I could only get thus far, and if I score low I’m slotted as a slow learner for life,” says DeGroot. “But with effort and hard work people can get smarter.”

That group returned from Pittsburgh and trained another 160 teachers and principals. This year those participants will use that knowledge to help students delve deeper into disciplinary studies like math and language arts.

Source: Jane DeGroot, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.