# data[].attributes.headline
Quarters-  This may help students monitor their progress closely when the window from report to report is  shorter

# data[].attributes.subject
Quarters-  This may help students monitor their progress closely when the window from report to report is  shorter

# data[].attributes.body
Individual grades matter more with the quarter system.
Giving students more opportunities to try connection classes is optimal, but considering allotment reductions, these opportunities have been replaced by creating a schedule based on individual school priorities and numbers instead of what's best for kids.

# data[].attributes.body
It's more difficult to bring up grades with semester  (a parent's perspective)
It's also easier to recover from when doing retention unlike semesters.

# data[].attributes.body
All of my reasons are used.

# data[].attributes.body
Semesters are aligned with  high school (and college)schedules. Could connections classes be on the quarter system while academic classes are on the semester system?

# data[].attributes.body
I am a HUGE fan of semesters.  I think semesters prepares our 6th graders for 7th and 8th grade.  Semesters also prepare our students for high school.  Our students need to learn about ACCOUNTABILITY.  They need to face the fact that they are responsible for their grade.  I have been teaching here for 17 years and do not see a significant difference in grades between semesters and quarters.  I also think the semester option gives our parents a little more incentive to go onto synergy and check out their student's progress because they are not getting a progress report/report card every 4 1/2 weeks.  I also want to point out that students will not receive a wider range of connection class opportunities because of the cuts that this department has received over the past 5 plus years on the quarter system.

# data[].attributes.body
Allows students to experience what high school is like and allows for a better mix of grades. There are more opportunities for improvement and more notices to parents before finalizing.

# data[].attributes.body
Semesters work great for 8th grade, to prepare them for high school and 7th grade is fine to have semesters, but for 6th graders, they need a chance to get acclimated to middle school. If it were possible, there should be two different schedules, one for 6th and one for 7th and 8th. However, that's probably not possible, so Semesters has my vote.

# data[].attributes.body
Teaching 8th graders, semesters better prepares them for high school and especially with tests counting for 50% there will be more opportunities for tho

# data[].attributes.body
High schools and college work on semester systems and our students need consistent scheduling.  Semesters also give students slower pacing compared to quarters.

# data[].attributes.body
Semesters are too long for students in 6th grade. They become complacent with their grade and decide to do all the work to make it up at the end of the semester. This also does not give them a fresh start until January! Quarters would also allow students to have more opportunities to try new connections classes as well. This would also allow them 4 grades to be averaged for their final grade instead of two which causes a lot of them to fall too far behind and not be able to pass that class even though it is only December

# data[].attributes.body
I was originally all-for semesters. And I do think they are fine in 7th and 8th grade. However, 6th graders do need to be acclimated and would do best on quarters.

This gives them a chance for a fresh start and helps them during first quarter learn the ropes of middle school

# data[].attributes.body
2. I think semesters are too long as well for students. They think they have so much time to bring their grade up and turn in SO many late things right before Christmas or the end of the year. I think it will help them with time management and to see how important each assignment is.

# data[].attributes.body
2)  Students have a chance to have a "fresh start" more often with their grades and get more official feedback throughout the year.  Also, better to have more grades to average for retention purposes.

# data[].attributes.body
I feel like students have more opportunities to improve their grade with a semester system.  It's easier for teachers to have more summative assessments so that no single grade has an overwhelming negative affect. Disclaimer - I teach 8th graders - I think they need semesters to prepare them for high school.

# data[].attributes.body
2) a. Semesters are too long for middle schoolers. They don't see the "long term."
b. Once we're about half-way into a semester, it's difficult to make a significant change in their grade.
c. By the end of a semester, there are so many grades that each one has little value.
d. Quarters offer kids more chances to start over and improve.
e. After reading others' responses, I'd like to echo the fact that quarters allow for more opportunities to experience connections classes. This is very important!
- 6th grade teacher

# data[].attributes.body
1. State your preference: Semesters or Quarters
2. Provide Rationale for your choice