Longer day divides school community at Denver elementary school
The push for a longer day at a Denver elementary school has parents up in arms and has raised questions about the correct protocol for making substantial changes to a school’s model.
Editorial: Asking teachers for more hours while cutting pay won’t work
Demanding a longer school day from teachers while imposing pay cuts, as Philadelphia is trying to do, is not a likely formula for school improvement.
In Chicago, unintended consequences of the longer day Philadelphia wants
Two years ago, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel got the longer school day that Philadelphia now wants. But although Chicago officials say their “Full School Day” has helped boost graduation rates and test scores, critics point to a growing list of unintended and potentially damaging consequences.
How different types of schools are tweaking their use of time
A look across five Philadelphia schools — public, charter, and private — finds some variation and experimentation with alternatives to the eight-period school day.
A brief review of research on lengthening the school day
Researchers point to plenty of evidence that more time can have a positive impact on achievement.
New efforts in Philadelphia to facilitate partnerships
A nearly broke school district is trying to beef up partnerships so its schools can offer programming outside of normal hours.
District schools try to create common planning time
Understaffing and contractual issues can get in the way, but schools in Philadelphia are managing to find ways to bring teachers together to plan and coordinate.
Conflicting ideas about lengthening the school day in Philadelphia
School officials would like to be able to provide students with more focused, academic instructional time. But how do you do that when there’s no money?
State budget leaves dollar figure for NYC after-school expansion unclear
Expanded after-school programming is still a go in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today, even though the state budget announced over the weekend does not set a dollar figure for the initiative.
Oakland Unified considering parcel tax to fund college, career readiness programs
One California school district is considering asking voters to pay for new college readiness programs. The $13 million estimate includes costs of rejiggering the school schedule to allow for eight periods, up from six; creating an associated summer school program; expanding support services for students; and hiring and training staff.