The Albemarle County School Board changed the high school schedule to eight periods in February 2010.This policy change was made without transparency and without stakeholder input. Despite the outcry of the community, the issues created by this measure have not been addressed. Furthermore, the ACPS  Board seems to be planning to continue to ignore the needs and demands of parents, students, and teachers.   The School Board is considering a vote on this policy at its next  meeting (November 10), despite not having adequate information about actual teacher student loads.
Whereas the eight period high school schedule adopted by Albemarle County Schools in 2010 has had the following negative consequences:
- increased student workloads, which reduces family time and inhibits the development of the whole child; 
- decreased total instructional time by approximately 10% per course;
- increased the number of classes taught by each teacher from five to six, and increased the total student load per teacher to more than 140 students for many teachers;
- reduced time for teachers to prepare for class, to assign and review student work, and to help students individually;
- forced teachers to eliminate or shorten assignments and drop course material;

- and inspired many fine teachers to retire early or to leave Albemarle schools for private ones,
We, the undersigned residents of Albemarle County, respectfully ask our School Board to reinstate a seven period schedule and to reduce from six to five the number of courses taught per teacher in our high schools.

Please sign this petition and come to the November 10 meeting to support our students and teachers.