some studies have questioned whether extended learning time yields enough bang for the buck. The National Academy of Education in Washington recently found that by its calculations, every 10 percent increase in time has resulted in just a 2 percent jump in actual learning.

Even for those who agree that ELT generates bigger returns, the larger question is how to pay for it. "There's no sugarcoating the fact that it takes resources," says the Center for American Progress's Owen, who estimates that providing 300 extra hours in learning time will increase school budgets by 6 percent to 20 percent, depending on the staffing model.

Dan Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, takes a more sober view. "Adding to learning time and spending more time on task is a key strategy, but it has run into an economic reality that's going to make it difficult to happen."

I teach high school in DCPS.

Before they start adjusting the schedule, perhaps they can work on addressing the low-hanging fruit. On average, I have about 40% of my students show up for my 1st period class. Other kids skip throughout the day and face zero consequences. 90% of the kids who show up don't have a backpack, paper, pencils, or any of their materials. They don't come to school ready to learn, and they're not held accountable for it. Extending the day or year won't change that. At the end of the term, I had twenty kids show up who had accumulated at least seven or eight absences and were failing my class. I was required to give them a chance to make up the grade, so they received C's by doing a quarter's worth of make-up work in one or two days. They didn't learn anything in that time. They just got a BS grade. I was told by the higher-ups that it would look bad on me and that I'd be forced to answer for the F if I didn't have "thorough documentation" of making every effort to contact all of their parents to get them to come to school.
The same goes for standardized beginning of year tests. It's well known that it looks better on our Impact score for the kids to come in and BS through the exams to get low scores so that we can see substantial "growth" later in the year. Changing the schedule will only keep the charade going.

Great. DCPS should just declare as its mission "Free Childcare for Working Parents. We keep them entertained and off the streets"

The Increase seems to be popular. Many parents who are in favor just want free and hassle-free daycare.

So even if it will have little or no academic advantages, and provide incentives for good teachers to flee DC and move just across the border, it would be popular and good for politics.

I bet Kaya will approve it just months before re-election.

I think they could use better schooling. Not necessarily more schooling. There's a difference

I'm in favor of a longer year and a longer day. We both work FT OTH and I think the kids would be be better served by the school in an academic & PE/recess/art/extras setting than they are in rec or DC aftercare most days. I feel this way more now because one of my kids is NOT several grades ahead like my first born was. And based on test scores and graduation rates, evidently the majority of DC public school kids could use more schooling.

Agreed. It took my son all summer to recover from the stress of school. And, he went up a reading level during the summer because he reads a lot anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Do not give DCPS more of your kids' precious childhood unless you are quite sure they know and are able to use that time wisely.

Even if I was sure they were using their time wisely, I do not want to give more. They do need a summer break, even if that means jumping from a summer camp to another.

Anonymous wrote:No to longer year. Maybe to longer day--only if it allows more creative play time. For all of those referencing other countries that have longer school year, those schools also have extended breaks throughout the school year. So, camp would still be needed. Summer vacations would become impossible. Teachers would bolt for jurisdictions where they have a longer summer. There are many things broken within DCPS that can be fixed without increasing the length of the school year.

Yes absolutely. No to longer school year.

Anonymous wrote:No to longer year. Maybe to longer day--only if it allows more creative play time. For all of those referencing other countries that have longer school year, those schools also have extended breaks throughout the school year. So, camp would still be needed. Summer vacations would become impossible. Teachers would bolt for jurisdictions where they have a longer summer. There are many things broken within DCPS that can be fixed without increasing the length of the school year.

Remember "creative play time" has a limited shelf life -- this will apply to MS and HS too.

Can you send a link to the survey? I want to say no, and advocate for more recess and less instructional time during the day.

Hilarious that DCPS hasn't even asked teachers or sent out a survey to us asking if we would consider this. Classic.

Anonymous wrote:Do not give DCPS more of your kids' precious childhood unless you are quite sure they know and are able to use that time wisely.

I agree wholeheartedly. A lot of learning takes place outside of school. I love being able to plan my children's summers and time after school with enrichment activities of my choosing.

Do not give DCPS more of your kids' precious childhood unless you are quite sure they know and are able to use that time wisely.