For the first time in the U.S., more district schools than charter schools are expanding the school day or year, according to a recentreport. But the national trend does not appear to be catching on in California.
Following the so-called community schools model, the city will bring physical and mental health practitioners, guidance counselors, adult literacy teachers, and a host of other service providers into these schools. They will also add an extra hour of tutoring to the school day and receive money for new after-school seats, summer programs, and more teacher training.
Plans to lengthen the school day at eight middle schools with many poor students are now hanging in the balance because of a squabble between city and state officials.
Mayor Greg Ballard won praise today for his $50 million plan to combat crime with programs that aim to get kids in school sooner and keep them there longer.
As the city scurries to make 53,000 full-day pre-kindergarten slots available this September, every seat counts. But when officials tried to round up pre-K seats in Jewish schools, the largest group of non-public schools in the city, some ultra-Orthodox yeshivas hesitated to add full-day programs that would limit their time for religious instruction.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers point to plenty of evidence that more time can have a positive impact on achievement.
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?