As educators, we have a responsibility to prepare students for a world that is rapidly evolving. The Madera Unified School District (MUSD) community has made it clear—they want a more rigorous and modern set of expectations for graduates, ensuring they leave high school equipped with lifelong employability skills. In response, we have established the MUSD Graduate Profile, a framework designed to showcase how students develop the traits necessary for success in both college and career.
To support this vision, we have made a fundamental shift in our secondary schools by expanding to a seven-period day in middle and high school. This change creates more access to highly motivating elective courses for students while providing teachers with more collaborative time to refine instruction. Teachers now directly instruct five of their seven periods, using the remaining two for essential tasks like lesson planning, coaching, grading, and professional development. This shift recognizes that great teaching is not just about time in front of students—it’s about the quality of the learning experiences we create.
International research shows that high-performing education systems prioritize teacher planning and collaboration, leading to more innovative and effective instruction. In the U.S., teachers often instruct 20–30% more minutes than their global counterparts, leaving little time for deep planning and reflection. Our new structure empowers teachers to be more intentional, ensuring that instruction is engaging, relevant, and student-focused.
We also recognize that homework should support, not overwhelm, students. With an additional class period, we are shifting our expectations around student work outside the classroom, categorizing it into three areas:
- Practice – Refining and reinforcing already-learned skills.
- Preparation – Engaging in studying, reading, and note-taking.
- Projects – Independent work contributing to a future team presentation or product.
By prioritizing meaningful coursework over excessive assignments, students experience a deeper connection to learning, leading to higher engagement, better attendance, greater self-confidence, and long-term success.
Change of this magnitude requires all of us—students, teachers, and leaders—to grow together. Since most of us never experienced this approach in our own education, we must embrace new ways of thinking, teaching, and learning. By reimagining how we use time and resources, MUSD is creating a more student-centered, inspiring, and impactful educational experience that will shape the futures of our graduates for years to come.
WE BELIEVE in a culture that enables MUSD students to experience an unparalleled educational journey that is intellectually, socially and personally transformative. Today, the conditions for our students and teachers are more supportive of that mission than ever!
