ERIC ED534910: Redesigning Today's Schools to Build a Stronger Tomorrow: The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative 2007-2008 Annual Report

2008·3.6 MB·English

by  ERIC

Redesigning Today’s Schools to
Build a Stronger Tomorrow
TheMassachusettsExpanded
LearningTimeInitiative
2007-2008AnnualReport
What Is Expanded
Learning Time?
O
urchildrendeserveaneducationthatfully
preparesthemforthefuture—successin
college,theworkforceandahealthy,fulfilled
life.TheMassachusettsExpandedLearning
Time(ELT)Initiativeisredesigningandexpandingthe
schoolscheduletoofferchildrennewlearningand
enrichmentopportunities.Withstateresources,partici-
patingschoolsareexpandingtheschooldaybyatleast
300hoursperyearforallstudentstoimprovestudent
outcomesincoreacademicsubjects,broadenenrich-
mentopportunities,andimproveinstructionbyadding
moreplanningandprofessionaldevelopmenttime
forteachers.ThevisionoftheExpandedLearningTime
InitiativeistoreshapetheAmericanschoolschedule
toprovideallstudentswithawell-roundededucation
thatpreparesthemforfullengagementandpartici-
pationintheeconomicandciviclifeofour21st-century
globalsociety.
Massachusetts Department
of Elementary & Secondary
Education Partnership
TheimplementationoftheExpandedLearning
TimeInitiativeistheresultofauniquepublic-
privatepartnershipbetweenMassachusetts
2020,theeducationalnonprofitthatenvisioned
ELT,andtheMassachusettsDepartmentofElementary&
SecondaryEducation(ESE),thestateagencyresponsible
foroverseeingit.Broughttogetherbyasharedgoal
ofimprovingeducation,thesetwoentitieshaveguided
transformationalreformacrossELTschoolsbyadopting
complementaryroles.TheESEsetsdemandingcriteria ELTImplementingSchools
forparticipationandselectsqualifyingschoolsbased
ELTPlanningDistrict*
onthestrengthandviabilityoftheirredesignproposals.
Massachusetts2020providestechnicalassistancesup-
porttoschoolsanddistrictsfromtheplanningstagesto *PlanningdistrictsasofNovember1,2008
theimplementationofanexpandedschooldayaswell
asadvocacyandresearchinsupportoftheELTInitiative.
Expanded
Learning Time
Grows Across
Massachusetts
3
LetterfromtheCo-FoundersofMassachusetts2020
T
hroughoutourcountry’shistory,ourstrengthasanationhasalwaysbeen
theingenuityandresolveofourpeople.Eachgenerationworkstomake
lifebetterforthenext.Wedream.Wecreate.Webuild.Weinvest.Thisyear,
turbulenceintheglobalfinancialmarketsbroughtdistresstoevery
Americanhousehold.Itcausedustore-examineinstitutions,questionthestatus
quo,andrecognizethatourchildrenwillneedsomuchmoretosucceedinthe
worldthatawaitsthem.
Massachusettsintroducedtheconceptofpubliceducationtoournationby
establishingthefirstpublicschool.Longagonoblethinkersinourstateunderstood
thatthepathtosuccessasapersonandasanationrestedwithaquality,well-
roundededucation.Asthedemandsoftheworldhaveevolvedandexpectations
ofourstudentshavegrown,sohastheneedforourpublicschoolstoembrace
reformsandtakenewapproachesinordertoachievehighergoals.
WhenExpandedLearningTime(ELT)wasimplementedin10Massachusetts
schoolsin2006,itwasnew,innovative,anduntried.Completelyredesigningand
expandingtheschooldaywastrulybold.Itrequirednewcollaborations,
thoughtfulplanning,andbroad-basedcommunityengagement.Thosepioneering
schoolsthatembracedELThadasinglegoalinmind:tohelpstudentssucceed
athigherlevels.Theypavedthepath.Theyshowedtheway.Weapplaudedtheir
dedicationanddrive.Becauseofthem,theCommonwealthdoubledfunding
forELTandninemoreschoolsadoptedtheinitiativein2007.Today,forthe2008-09
schoolyear,26schoolsin12communitiesservingmorethan13,500childrenare
implementingELTschedules.Morethanthreedozenschoolsin21districtsacross
thestatearecurrentlyengagedinELTplanningprocessesforthe2009-2010
schoolyearandbeyond.
Onethingisascleartodayasitwaswhenthosefirstpioneeringschoolsimple-
mentedELT:addingmoretimeisafundamentalingredientforeveryeffort
toreinvigorateschoolsandlearning.ELThasearnedbroadsupportfromacrossthe
spectrum.Unionleadersandthebusinesscommunity,membersoftheLegislature
andtheGovernor,DemocratsandRepublicans—allsupportthisinitiativetoredesign
theschooldaywithmoretimeandaccountabilityforresults.WhatMassachusetts
beganthreeyearsagohastakenholdandisproducingresults.Implementation
hasbeenrobust.Today,students,teachers,parents,andcommunitypartnersarecol-
lectivelyengagedinthenewschoolday,anditspromisesarebeingrealized.
Thispublicationcannotconveythevibrancyandenthusiasmfoundintheminds
andfacesinside ELTschools.Still,inthesepagesyouwillfindthestories,the
data,theimages,theadvocates,andthereasonswhyELTismakingadifference.
Itisonlythroughyourcommitmentandcontinuedsupportthatwecan
givestudentstheeducationtheyneedanddeserve.
ChrisGabrieli JenniferDavis
Chairman President
4
“Expanding LearningTime
has brought a tremendous
amount of energy to the
Browne Middle School.
The teachers have seen an
immediate positive impact
of the additional time;
students are enthusiastic
and engaged in the added
experiences.This positive
energy is affecting the
whole attitude of our dis-
trict,and now six more
Chelsea schools are hoping
to implement ELT.As an
educational community,
we are invigorated!”
MaryBourque
DeputySuperintendent
ChelseaPublicSchools
5
In the Media
AcrosstheCommonwealth,
ExpandedLearningTimeis April11,2008
makingnews.Here’sasnap- The School Experiment That’s Paying Off
shotofwhat’sbeingsaid. SIitTTcsoioSos’hpnSirtmetspoThL,oetHpesixrstholEtuepmniugmedclnhyiroeroiimnadtmsictetemseulsfinalevooftlneoniurhcdrsiisanattesoschgnouthelsriusvieeeritlso:tpfiuafioaeeldnmldtsose?lni,bvilbkigoeeeuleosotrst,phtaissmcenMhaadeClotnsetAooetrlSs,apdm:scoaachupnyoe.surreieslcdas,au,rawncwrdathi,ttitailhhoennesdpicrrrhseoupofvnoooidrrilomtiasnnd.gstSmh.omaiwntoirhsetarta-
May4,2008
TThimateItsoGtehtitninkg:DSounc’htGShooordtGCrhaadnegsetheSchoolReform
ceRasenpfoetrcomialaellyrysoiinnnltoMhwias-spwseaircnfhnourinmsegitnbtsgeths.achveoohlist.uThpeonLesgoimslaettuhrinegshtohuatldmbeeags,ubroarbrolywimanpdrosvteesaalacalldtehmemicotensetysictores,
atpbhThluuhomebudeorlgratisscoittnteos1ogcl1whitapshaocetsoearhlcd4tseere2wane.m4dtxea.iitrctIegeninpoej2endup0readof0dlogi7n6res,mt-dcrhshe.apogonruuoocrllfeaddicriaaniseyyc.nl—hoTtwohoioenr-lp“nsreEeuhxramaftdoedbirnnmredagrieisnsadesgnhdLdseopcamwhrroonaEfotiLinhTlcsig..ieIsInTnnoictm2nyh0eeem0.o”1o68fIdt,ts6ehmc2seht.e9olfayeopnwtlessoraba6cpdee6gpdn.4iritnno.onagBfciu9nchth0geEislmtLdhTtrhienseacEnuthLtiTioensoesarlxtsecpogtjeuuutrwamlialmolpryeendt
eAdftuecraotnioeny;e7a0rpineraceMntasosfatcehaucsheetrtsssEaLiTdstchheoEoLlT,7f5oprmeracetnwtaosfhpaavrienngtsaspaoidsittihveeirefcfheicltdroenntahreeirgsettutidnegnatsb.etter
November30,2007
Longer,Better School Days
FOR9,000studentsin18Massachusettspublicschools,thesecrettosuccessisbasic:more
time.Insteadofmakingdowithanold-fashionedsix-hourday,theseschoolshavedone
asubstantialoverhaul,creatingaschooldaythatisbothlongerandricher.
Longerdayshaveyieldedmanybenefits.Studentsspendmoretimelearning.Teachershave
moreplanningtime,andthosewhostayforalongerdayearnmoremoney.Community
organizationshavebecomevitalpartners.InWorcester,forexample,studentsattheJacob
HiattMagnetSchoolhaveworkedwiththePaulRevereHouseandOldSturbridgeVillage.
Parentsarealsopayingattention.MorefamiliesaretakingtoursattheDr.MartinLuther
KingJr.SchoolinCambridge.Andforthefirsttimetheschoolhasawaitinglistfor
studentsfrommiddle-classfamilieswhodon’tqualifyforthereducedlunchprogram.
6
November30,2007
Report:SchoolsWithLongerDaysPosted
ImprovedMCASScores
osTefhftetwsrieatshpupilmetsaprorftooavnebdeexpMprCoeAmriSmissiecnnogrte.tSsotaalectrneogestdshuaeclnlagttrihoaendseocflhefoivcoeilalsdlsiansyaEaynttg1hl0iesphinu,cmbrleaicathssecahdnoldeoalssrcniineinnMgceat.simsaechpua-id
May1,2008
OOtaTaehTlcnhixuehdrseeaoteasrremsscyeeunsh—V’xsiratontehrnhioeegeewdnalatdbsdwalcolaoeilyyomlyade:tnsrohcpeddoItadrnai.uaomsyprrvvsepgarehesoulrdol.ofoisIiwsnvtcwttegianueslediwnlrsdoneectiwumuynthcEtdsgaasetatd’rthenspkioeauctasosncbrbchretlieeeoaesssturrtawtsoeolptienstsoipouen.tlnAlngychtrdseeswedtolMaohimtsncoaaeagetskltstlp3nhyha0roeceae0whyvanuhimdlsoeostusaoeuutsrutdarnltsnyetseitntsCnowtotorsmftimudhftgaoeiepmgsr,rsetwleeceinahhirstcgeoahptnonsietvsclndeeihyvstteopteeaaorsdiArollcs—uosjoesracrecaaenttsbhtsdssioenrmituiinghrsetsi.etnntEteewsgtxaattScaoadehyltnhmsoeintdofeaogiujmnvsursetgsstrtyalgee.
tomeetstudents’needs.
April29,2008
MoreTime for Learning
Therearemanypathstobettereducation,andallcomewithapricetag.Themostexcitingschool
reforminitiativeinMassachusettstodaystartswithsomethingsimple:moretimetolearn.
Thereviewsoftheprogramhavebeennearlyallpositive.Thelongerdayispopularwithteachers,
parents,andevenstudents.Testscoresforparticipatingschoolsareup.ELTappearstohelpclose
theachievementgapbetweenwhiteandminoritystudents,inpartbyprovidingenrichment
activitiesthatmanyminorityfamiliescannotaffordtopurchaseafterschool.
September22,2008
ConsensusonLearningTimeBuilds
tln$acashU1aotsew,na3tmtiM0ndimodmed0naeoraausplneryslnedntatwrhiecostpahyacrtumthhcuachopaschoeeotiteulirtlwvdtstshois’,ospou3etauur-nsxdyelrdiaaesdsomsrapnde3urrs0po-rao,oenldUvpel’ditd.te.doSriioe.nncpfSegffireteeneinmdrtap.eetmaoEirnrvrdaoeeoewlruslfteeautgouarthndierdmdnxteMiipiennmna.tgtgKensofetdftotinoomhrlrneeddeaaeoisdrstscnstyouhro,icnicoD—cchogt-eiMslelstdydoisamerfursueascsenrlca..,’fgh.stiu.ionolvWtirtoeuvsrlsei,orstpesddhw.—oiu.bs.licistaaIcerhnncyidickmdMntilsngefaaeggaktsaiobesfsrarrolffsaocouu,htmllatiluootnhbsnwdeoatttths,
7
Massachusetts Leaders Believe
in Expanded Learning Time
ThankstothestrongsupportofGovernorDevalPatrickandtheMassachusettsLegislature,fundingfor
theExpandedLearningTimeInitiativegrewby33%,anincreaseof$4.5million,forthe2008-2009school
year.Massachusetts’legislatorsandleadershipshowedtheirongoingcommitmenttoELTinthistight
budgetyearbyapprovingabudgetthatincludes$17.5millioninfundingfortheinitiative—asignificant
commitmenttothisinnovativeprogramanditspromisingresultsforstudents,teachers,andschools.
TheELTInitiativehasgaineditsmomentumthroughtheleadershipandadvocacyof:GovernorPatrick,
whomadeELTakeycomponentofhiseducationagenda,theReadinessProject;theChairsofthe
EducationCommittee,RepresentativePatriciaHaddadandSenatorRobertAntonioni;andvocalsupport-
ersineachchamber,includingRepresentativeVincentPedoneandSenatorJoanMenard.
“Expanded learning time is a key component for the next
phase of education reform in Massachusetts.Educators
need more time to deliver the academic and enrichment
instruction necessary to develop the whole child,as
we build a world-class education system that prepares
students for success in a global 21st-century economy.”
MassachusettsGovernorDevalL.Patrick
GovernorDevalPatrickvisitstheJacobHiattMagnetSchoolinJanuary2008
8
Growth of the ELT Initiative
“TheHouseofRepresentativeshasbeenproudto “OneofthemostbeneficialaspectsofELTistheoppor-
workwithMass2020andtheDepartmentof tunitytocombineenrichmentactivities,suchasmusic,
ElementaryandSecondaryEducationtosupportthis art,orsports,withinthecorecurriculum.Havingthe
groundbreakingandpromisingpilotprogram. abilitytotaketheextratimeandtrydifferentteaching
Providingopportunitiestoimprovethelivesofthe techniquesallowsteacherstoreacheverystudent.
nextgenerationisprobablythemostexcitingpart Thereismoretimeforpracticalapplicationaswell.
ofbeingalegislator.TheELTInitiativeisoneof Howmanymiddleschoolstudentshavevoluntarilyput
thenewestandmostpromisingopportunitieswe onafull-lengthShakespeareproduction?In2007
arepursuingineducationreforminMassachusetts. KussMiddleSchooldid–theyneverwouldhavebeen
Theearlyworkofthesepioneeringeducators, abletowithouttheExpandedLearningTimeprogram.”
students,andschoolcommunitiesisbeingwatched MassachusettsStateSenatorJoanM.Menard
closelybythoseofusthathavesupportedthis (D-FallRiver)
initiativefromthebeginning.Wearehopefulthat
itwillprovetobeanimportantpartofourbroader
effortstoclosethestubbornachievementgap
thatcontinuestoplagueourschools.”
MassachusettsHouseSpeakerSalvatoreF.DiMasi
(D-Boston)
9
The Pioneers
These26schoolsarethefirstinthenationtoredesigntheirschooldaythroughastatewideinitiative
focusedonexpandinglearningtime.ThesepioneeringschoolsserveasexamplestotheCommonwealth
andtheentirenationforhowschoolscanbetransformedwhenteachers,administrators,parents,and
thecommunityworktogethertoaddlearningtimeandrethinkwhatschoolshouldbe.
District Cohort School Grades Numberof
served students
Boston 2006 MarioUmanaMiddleSchoolAcademy 6-8 625
Boston 2006 ClarenceR.EdwardsMiddleSchool 6-8 390
Boston 2006 JamesP.TimiltyMiddleSchool 6-8 690
Cambridge 2006 Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.School PK-8 255
Cambridge 2006 Fletcher-MaynardAcademy PK-8 250
FallRiver 2006 CarltonM.ViveirosSchool* K-5 747
FallRiver 2006 MatthewJ.KussMiddleSchool 6-8 650
Malden 2006 SalemwoodSchool K-8 1,200
Worcester 2006 JacobHiattMagnetSchool PK-6 454
Cohort1Total 5,261
Boston 2007 BostonArtsAcademy 9-12 423
Chicopee 2007 PatrickE.BoweSchool K-5 415
FallRiver 2007 FrankM.SilviaElementarySchool K-5 525
Fitchburg 2007 AcademyMiddleSchool 5-8 340
Greenfield 2007 NewtonSchool K-4 210
Greenfield 2007 GreenfieldMiddleSchool 5-8 480
Malden 2007 FerrywaySchool K-8 900
Worcester 2007 ChandlerElementaryCommunitySchool PK-6 325
Worcester 2007 CityViewSchool PK-6 556
Cohort2Total4,174
Chelsea 2008 JosephA.BrowneMiddleSchool 5-8 503
Fitchburg 2008 BFBrownArtsVisionSchool 5-8 483
Framingham 2008 CameronMiddleSchool 6-8 525
Framingham 2008 BrophyElementarySchool K-5 465
Revere 2008 GarfieldMiddleSchool 6-8 500
Revere 2008 A.C.WhelanElementarySchool K-5 710
Southbridge 2008 WestStreetSchool 4-5 390
Southbridge 2008 WellsMiddleSchool 6-8 530
Cohort3Total4,106
*Note—InSeptember2008,theViveirosSchoolwascreatedbythemergerof TOTALELTSTUDENTS13,541
sixelementaryschoolsinFallRiver.Threeoftheseschools,theN.B.Borden,
theOsborn,andtheFowler,wereELTschoolspriortothecreationoftheViveiros.
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