NEW SC LAW Implies a drop in teaching time for the average and above average student in SC public school 3rd grades!

NEW SC LAW Requires that all 3rd graders pass standardized test or not pass 3rd grade.

According to WBTW’s report by Maggie Lorenz, this new law applies to over 50% of students state-wide. As a whole this means that over 50% of the students in a classroom are considered scoring in the lowest of the low category with respect to reading. These students are now required to be brought up to grade level comprehension by the end of 3rd grade.

I wonder... where will the extra teaching time come from?

Remember this promotional ad for our school where we were noting that if your child has been bored at school that perhaps it is not your child’s fault but that the school just isn’t geared for your already performing child. Look at an estimated school day of 7:40 to 2:40. This is a total of 7 hours or 420 minutes. Most schools offer 180 days of tuition-based efforts.  Let’s imagine how a typical teacher might spend those minutes.

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Even in Elementary School, class “periods” or times allocated to different subjects are a given.  Let’s say that a class period is an hour but take off 10 minutes for transitions so 50 minutes. Keeping to the numbers of 44% of the students meeting or exceeding reading

standards, and 66% that are not and will need extra help, coaching, etc., we can see a pie chart of how a teacher spends time. By looking at time for full class instruction and backing into time for the performing 44%, we find out that currently, the top 44% of students in a classroom receive about 11 minutes each or around 3% of the teacher’s time.

By taking time away from the Teacher’s preparation time, full class teaching time, the brighter students focused time, we could build up time to spend re-teaching, coaching and tutoring that majority of the class. This raises time for the bottom 66% of students to 195 minutes. This means that these students receive almost ¾ of the time available! Time spent on the 44% of students who are actually at grade level drops to 9 minutes each or 2% of the teacher’s time is actually spent teaching at or above grade level

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Basically, the time and attention spent preparing for and grading the modestly bright child’s work has been reduced. The time spent in encouraging this student to push on and continue learning is reduced. The time spent in whole class lectures, which aren’t geared towards the learning level of the modestly bright child or even the average child who simply works hard, is reduced. The time that the top 44% of the class has for learning is reduced to about 28% of the time available in the school day. For a class of 30 students, this means that your child’s share of the teacher’s effort is about 2% of the school day. Yet, the time left for your child to be bored has been increased. This will tend to reduce motivation of the brighter child… why should they work so hard, they can do much less and just get by. Is this the attitude towards life that you want your child to learn?

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At The Renaissance Preparatory Academy, your child’s class size maxes out at 15 students and our day is a full 8 hours not 7. Of that time, we have recess where your child learns social interaction and initiative skills. Time spent in teacher-directed time to your child’s learning level is typically 65 minutes or 13.5% of the teacher’s day. Here your child spends time being encouraged to stretch and learn more. Your child, even in the fullest class, will receive 29 minutes of the teacher’s efforts as an individual or 6% of the teacher’s time. Three times as much as in a typical 30 student classroom in a typical public school in South Carolina. The byproducts here are learning initiative, learning to stretch and learn more, and a strong work ethic (which is desired by future employers). Skating by, coasting, or not putting all of one’s effort into a task is actively discouraged.

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Yes, we are small right now. Some classes have almost one on one teaching, but your family can come join our family and we’ll grow together! It will take some courage to be a part of a new learning experience.
It is worth being part of something brand new when your child can receive focused attention, your family receives a great discount on this year’s tuition AND we’ll commit to capping tuition cost increases to 5% a year for the time that your student is continuously attending the Renaissance Preparatory Academy!

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So, ENROLL Today!  LOCK IN LOW TUITION, Increase your child’s instruction time… JUST CALL at 843, 800-0590 or drop us an email and we’ll chat. Given the continued price of no more than $450 for a child 10 and above and only $399 for children below the age of 10 (like those in 3rd grade right now), it is a small investment now for a great pay-off in life lessons and learning received by your child!

Think about and then give me a call!

Janice Black,
Founder, Director of School Board

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