Important Step Forward for Boston Public Schools

Statement from Jennifer Davis, Co-Founder & President of the National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL) and Massachusetts 2020, on today’s announcement from Mayor Martin Walsh, Superintendent John McDonough and Boston Teachers Union President Richard Stutman on the agreement to expand the school day at Boston elementary, middle and K-8 schools.

“This agreement is an important step forward for Boston Public Schools. I applaud Mayor Walsh, Superintendent McDonough, and BTU President Stutman for their leadership in acknowledging that we have to provide our teachers more time to work and learn together as peers and also more time to work with their students. Boston's diverse students will also benefit from the broader academic and enrichment opportunities that a redesigned and expanded school day enables.  

With this agreement, Boston is emerging as one of the country’s leaders as it embarks on a plan to strategically redesign and expand learning time for both teachers and students. Engaging teachers, administrators, parents, and community members in the process about how best to redesign and add time to the school day to ensure maximum impact will be a key next step.  The National Center on Time & Learning is eager to be supportive and share the best practices we have documented in this field over the last ten years.”