Announcement: NY State School Districts Participating in Extended Learning Time Grant Program

Statement from Jennifer Davis, Co-Founder & President of the National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL), on today’s announcement of school districts participating in New York State’s competitive grant program to expand learning time in targeted schools across New York.

“We congratulate the nine school districts across New York state that have been awarded the state’s Extended Learning Time Grant. For students, particularly in our neediest communities, the current school calendar of 180 six-and-a-half-hour days is simply not enough, and these schools are taking an important step forward by designing a modern school schedule. I applaud Governor Cuomo, legislative leaders, and Commissioner John King and the New York State Education Department for their investment in expanding learning for the students at these schools and for putting New York at the forefront of the movement to redesign and expand learning time.

With expanded learning time, these schools will be able to provide their students with more time for core academics, targeted intervention and support, and engaging enrichment classes as well as more time for teachers to collaborate and plan.

Across the country, there are more than 1,500 expanded-time schools in 36 states and the District of Columbia, chiefly serving the disadvantaged students. New York is already home to over 70 expanded-time schools, including district, charter, magnet, and turnaround schools, that are providing their students with more opportunities for a strong, well-rounded education.

We need more states to follow New York’s lead to expand learning time to ensure students are prepared for college and their careers. We look forward to supporting school leaders across New York as they begin this important work.

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The National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL) (www.timeandlearning.org) is dedicated to expanding learning time to improve student achievement and enable a well-rounded education. Through research, public policy, and technical assistance, NCTL supports national, state, and local initiatives that add significantly more school time for academic and enrichment opportunities to help all children meet the demands of the 21st century.