Southern Carolina Educators for Practical Use of Research: Relationship of Instructional Time Configuration, Gender, and Race in Seventh-Grade Social Studies Performance

• In Event: The Consortium of State and Regional Educational Research Associations Distinguished Paper Session 3

Abstract

This study compared the academic performance of seventh-grade students on a state-mandated social studies accountability test by the instructional time configuration used and explored the relationship among the variables of gender, race and poverty on this performance. Results of 24,919 seventh-grade student social studies test scores from 117 middle schools as well as a survey given to principals of these same schools were analyzed. While controlling for poverty, students in schools using a 61-79 minute block all-year schedule configuration earned significantly higher test scores than students using any other schedule configuration. Additionally, White students scored significantly higher on the test than Hispanic students, and Hispanic students scored significantly higher than Black students regardless of the instructional time configuration used.

Authors

• Kenneth E. Vogler, University of South Carolina

• Susan L. Schramm, University of South Carolina

• Audrey Allan, York Public Schools