How can additional academic time benefit students, educators, and schools?
ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC TIME OFFERS EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS, whether they are struggling in some subjects and would benefit from remedial classes or they are advanced and eager for supplemental work to accelerate their studies. Additional time also can be used to expose all students to enrichment activities, such as internships or community service projects, arts programs, or other electives that engage their interests, such as karate, music, or photography. Decisions on how the extra time would be spent would be determined by the principals and educators working most closely with students to ensure that individual needs are met. 81 percent of students say they want more real-world learning opportunities.
BENEFITS FOR EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS include the opportunity to decrease summer learning loss (which decreases the time spent re-teaching material), increase student engagement and performance, and involve more parents and volunteers. More academic time often provides an opportunity for additional professional development and planning time for educators. Schools in Delaware already offering just three additional weeks of school have experienced reduced summer learning loss and increased test scores. Schools using balanced calendars have improved retention for students with learning difficulties and engaged parents as volunteer teachers and coordinators.
What's happening in Delaware?
Several public schools offer a balanced or year-round calendar, in which students have the option of attending additional instructional time. These include:
Seaford Middle School (Seaford School District, year-round calendar for some students in grades 6 and 7)
Charter schools often offer increased academic time and learning opportunities. For example, Eastside Charter School offers an 11-month school year.
The results are clear: more academic time can improve student achievement.
At Eastside Charter School in 2003, 100% of 3rd graders scored proficient on state math and reading tests.
At Maple Lane Elementary School, summer learning loss has decreased, and state standardized test scores have increased. For example, in just three years, third grade students' writing scores have improved 34 percent.
What are other states doing?
KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) schools in 16 states focus on five pillars, one of which is more instructional time. Students attend school from 7:30 am to 5 pm, summer school courses are mandatory, and teachers are available nights and weekends for help. One hundred percent of KIPP schools outperform their districts, and the average KIPP 8th grader is in the 74th percentile nationally.
Minnesota's school superintendents recently proposed increasing the school year from 175 to 200 days.
Illinois legislators have proposed extending the school year.
What does Vision 2015 recommend?
Providing students with 140 additional school hours a year
Providing funding necessary to support additional learning opportunities
Guiding districts and schools in how to use this additional academic time to meet the needs of their students
Enhancing professional development time and quality for educators
Providing more real-world learning opportunities for all students
Making learning more relevant and interesting to students
Providing Delaware students with the resources they need to compete with students across the globe, many of whom currently benefit from more academic time
