Overview

Strategic master schedules optimize instructional time and teacher effectiveness, accommodate the needs of protected student groups, and ensure equitable access to high-rigor coursework for all students through iterative and collaborative design processes between administrators and teachers.

The brief explores the challenges and solutions that education leaders are using to optimize their master schedules.

Four key strategies highlighted in the brief:

• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 – A strong master schedule supports school-wide goals, from increasing college readiness to expanding access to high-impact tutoring.

• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – Schedulers must balance the legal requirements of IEPs, English learner supports, and intervention programs while ensuring all students get the resources they need.

• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 – AI-driven tools can cut scheduling time by up to 100 hours, helping administrators focus on strategy rather than technical fixes.

• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 – Innovative scheduling approaches, such as dedicated intervention blocks, allow schools to integrate programs like in-school tutoring without disrupting core instruction.