Middle school students will attend four 86-minute classes each day. Two of the periods will be spent in language arts and math classes. The new schedule will also require students who were not already on block schedules to take a social studies class one semester and a science class another semester, instead of taking both classes all year long. In the remaining period, students would take physical education, art and other electives on a three-day rotating schedule.
A Maryland MS trying to do something new. Though not without critics.

I partly agree with the parents in this case. But they shouldn't be frustrated at the school, this is a symptom of high stakes testing.