Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Harry S. Truman High School has unveiled a new proposed student schedule set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year.
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District officials said in a notice to parents that the schedule is aiming to “promote increased student achievement, improve school culture and climate, and provide support and assistance to learners of all levels.”
The revised schedule introduces extended class periods and a streamlined lunch hour. The schedule change will add 4 to 5 minutes of instruction time for classes.
Unlike Pennsbury High School, the district isn’t proposing changing the start time.
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A significant addition is “Tiger Time,” a daily period that is to be focused on to academic support, college and career preparation, and enrichment activities.
“The creation of ‘Tiger Time,’ a period each day devoted to providing support for all learners and interventions for students in need,” the district said in a note to parents. “During ‘Tiger Time,’ students will be provided with needed remediation, opportunities to meet with college recruiters, complete college and career readiness requirements, assemblies, and many more activities geared towards developing their goals for post-high school life.”
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Adding “Tiger Time” to the schedule will reduce the number of class periods from seven to six, which means the high school will need to decrease credit required.
Parents were told the graduation credit requirements will be adjusted over three years starting with the class of 2026, which will need 24 credits to graduate, down from the current 25.
The phased reduction will ultimately set the graduation credit requirement at 22 by the 2027-2028 school year.
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For students graduating in 2025, the changes will not affect their credit requirements.
The school has also adjusted other programs to ensure students who utilize elective opportunities can continue to do so. Certain electives will now be available on alternating days and some high school credits will be attainable through accelerated middle school courses.
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Addressing why these changes were necessary, the district said: “Our current schedule has not evolved to meet the growing and diverse needs of our students. A straightforward schedule impacts our classes anytime we have to interrupt them to complete a state required survey, have an assembly, or other high school anomalies. All of these activities will move into this timeframe to avoid the loss of instructional time in core classes. Students also need the opportunity to explore their lives beyond high school. The tools that students can utilize in this time will allow them to explore their interests and match them with possible careers/college majors. Students will also have much more voice and choice in their day, working with staff to meet their individualized needs.”
Truman High School is set to host a town hall on May 14 via Google Meet to discuss these changes further and answer any lingering questions from parents and students. Another session is scheduled for the fall, and inquiries can also be directed to Trumanschedule@bristoltwpsd.org for those unable to attend the meetings.
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