More School Time

There are a lot of people celebrating the merits of Time right now. Policy proposals to add time to the school day or school year are popping up in states, districts and even on the national front. More school time is seen as the best way to help schools and students meet higher academic standards and keep the U.S. globally competitive. More time, it is said, will lead to more of everything: more core academics, more enrichment, more teacher planning and professional development.

There is no question that schools are struggling to fit it all in. But is adding time the answer?

Education Sector just released a new report on time. In it, I turn to research on time and learning to try to explain that while time certainly matters, it may not be the linchpin of school improvement. Of course it's a valuable resource for schools and yes, in good schools with quality teachers and strong curriculum, having more of it will lead to more good learning. But in schools with fewer experienced teachers, high turnover rates in staff and leadership, and a record of poor performance, it just doesn't sit right to keep kids in these schools longer. The kids in these schools-- generally the poorer kids who don't have their parents waiting at home to read to them or take them to private music lessons or language programs--do need more quality learning time to keep up with their peers and to get the education they deserve. But we must be careful not to assume that quantity matters as much as quality. It simply doesn't.

Read Jay Mathews take on it here, and read the full Education Sector report here.

Join us on February 7th to hear more perspectives on extending time in school.