Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
Bossier Parish Schools is shifting to a modified block schedule at all high schools beginning next school year, marking the most significant scheduling change for Bossier Parish high school students in more than two decades.
Under the current four-by-four block system, students complete four classes per semester, for a total of eight. District officials say, however, that structure will no longer align with the Louisiana Department of Education’s updated accountability framework in 2026-27 when the number of high school assessments are reduced from six to four.
Rather than taking separate English I/II and Algebra I/Geometry tests, students will no longer be tested in the fall. Instead, they will only take one comprehensive ELA exam and one comprehensive math exam in the spring of their 10th grade year, leaving many students without instruction in those core subjects for an entire year before being tested.
Under the modified block schedule, students would still take four classes each day in 90-minute blocks, but rotate through a total of eight classes on an alternating A and B schedule throughout the school year rather than switching courses each semester. Mondays would serve as an “anchor day.”
District leaders say the adjustment is intended to promote continuous learning, prevent gaps in instruction and help students meet new state requirements for graduation.
“We try to make good decisions that are in the best interest of students, staff, schools and our district,” Superintendent Jason Rowland said during the meeting. “We use data and research. It’s an analytics world right now, and we believe we have to do something. Change is never easy, but we believe it will be a productive move for Bossier Schools.”
Rowland said the district sought to maintain the benefits of block scheduling — such as longer class periods that allow for deeper instruction — while creating a more consistent, year-long learning model.
“I think any time that you extend comprehension, that you’re able to provide deeper learning and enhance retention of information, we’re going to see our kids who graduate and go to college have more success early on,” he said.
District officials say implementation planning will begin well in advance of the 2026-27 school year. Administrators will work with principals and faculty to ensure a smooth transition and provide guidance to students and families.
As Bossier Parish schools move away from a scheduling model that has been in place for more than 20 years, leaders say the goal remains the same: improving student performance and aligning classroom instruction with evolving state standards.
For now, students will continue under the current format through the 2025-26 school year, with the new A/B block structure set to debut the following fall.