The Big Picture
It’s hard to believe how much has transpired since you received our first edition of the ELTimes back in December:
- Our ten pioneering schools have almost completed their first school year;
- A recent survey of parents with students in ELT schools showed overwhelming support of the new day;
- Governor Patrick has joined the Legislature in embracing Expanded Learning Time as one of his educational priorities;
- On a national level, Senator Kennedy recognized our state’s ELT model in a speech in Washington in January while the New York Times featured ELT in a front page article; and
- Over 80 schools continue to plan for future implementation of ELT. > To read the entire “Big Picture”, click here.
In the News |
|
In this section we highlight major policy developments and local, state, national and international media coverage on the Expanded Learning Time Initiative.
State Budget Update
In the recent release of the House Ways & Means budget, the House recommended a more than 50% increase in funding for ELT. While this signals their significant support of the ELT Initiative, it isn’t sufficient to fund all schools planning to implement in the fall of 2007. It is still early in the state budget process and we encourage supporters of ELT to advocate for your schools. If you would like to activate support in your community and help with our advocacy efforts, please contact Blair Brown at Massachusetts 2020 at 617-378-3921 or blair@mass2020.org. Stay tuned for email updates over the next two weeks on the budget process!
ELT continues to catch the attention of national, state and local media outlets. On March 26th, the New York Times featured a front-page story on expanded learning time. The article, “Failing Schools See a Solution in Longer Day”, examined the national debate on a longer school day and focused on the positive impact the redesigned day has made at the Matthew J. Kuss Middle School in Fall River and the Martin Luther King Jr. School in Cambridge. To read the article, click here.
In February, Massachusetts 2020 released the results of a survey showing that parents with children in ELT schools overwhelmingly support the redesigned and expanded school day. Highlights from the survey include: over 75% of parents believe that the expanded school schedule is much or somewhat better for their child; 77% of parents report that their child is performing better in school as a result of the expanded schedule; and 79% of parents agree that more schools in the state should expand their schedule. Click here to read a summary of the survey results.
> For more In the News, click here.
|
ELT at a Glance
|
Worth a Thousand Words
> Take a peek at what the expanded school day looks like at Jacob Hiatt Elementary School in Worcester by clicking here to watch a short video.
|
|
Peaks and Valleys In each issue of the ELTimes, we will interview an ELT principal to get a candid analysis of the
particular challenges and the rewards of creating “a new day for kids”.
Patricia Gaudette is Principal of the Jacob Hiatt Magnet School in Worcester. The school has 500 students in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade.
What have been the peaks of the ELT experience so far?
First, I have to say that one of the highest peaks has been seeing the dedication of teachers and staff to the success of this initiative. They have continuously worked hard to make the transition from the regular day to the expanded day as easy as possible. The program has been supported by a phenomenal management team including Vice-Principal Mary Labuski, our expanded learning time coordinator Patty Genese, and Sue Allen, who coordinates our professional development partnership with Clark University.
> To read the interview, click here.
ELT Innovator
This section features a person or program that personifies the spirit of invention, creativity and plain old hard work
When most of us picture our middle school math teachers, we see a teacher posed in front of a blackboard, chalk in hand, writing out equations and graphs. But students at the Kuss Middle School in Fall River will have a very different memory of 8th grade math teacher Brian Raposo. That is because Raposo, who is in his first year of teaching at Kuss, has introduced a unique addition to the expanded school day curriculum – a Karate class.
> Click here to learn more about the impact the Karate class is having at the Kuss.
Promising Partners
This section features a community partner who is participating in the Expanded Learning Time
Initiative.
A community partner in every sense of the word, the East Boston YMCA is a vital part of the expanded day at the Umana/Barnes Middle School in Boston. Located less than a mile from the school’s campus, Umana/Barnes and the Y first teamed up back in 2002 to provide after-school services to Umana students. At first, enrollment in the after-school activities was modest – about 20 students – but with the encouragement of Umana/Barnes principal Dr. Jose Salgado, it rose over the next few years to almost 250 students.
> Click here to learn more about the partnership between the Umana/Barnes and the East Boston YMCA.
Union Matters This section highlights the work that Massachusetts 2020 is doing to engage union leaders in all communities across the state to participate in the ELT planning process.
In January, upon the recommendation of Boston Teachers Union President Richard Stutman, the BTU and Massachusetts 2020 hosted a dinner for the ELT principals, union staff and building representatives along with Boston Superintendent Michael Contompasis and members of his senior staff to discuss the successes and challenges of the first semester of the Expanded Learning Time Initiative in Boston. The three Boston ELT schools - the Umana/Barnes Middle School in East Boston, the Edwards Middle School in Charlestown and the Timilty Middle School in Roxbury - were all represented. During this dinner meeting, union representatives from each school talked openly with school principals, the superintendent and the union president about the opportunities and challenges presented by the redesigned and expanded day. > Click here to read more about Union Matters.
Tip of the Month
When developing your schedule for enrichments, think about the size of the class and the instructor when you are placing your students with either language or behavioral challenges. Research proves that integrating students with disabilities in the appropriate setting will have huge gains in other academic classes.
Forward this Email!To forward this email to a friend, click here.
|
|
Massachusetts 2020 is able to provide technical assistance support to schools and districts participating in the Expanded Learning Time Initiative because of the generous support of a growing network of funders including The Boston Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,Yawkey Foundation II, an Anonymous Foundation, and the Gabrieli Family Foundation. We thank them for their partnership.
Massachusetts 2020
One Beacon Street, 34th Floor, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-723-6747 | fax: 617-723-6746
www.mass2020.org
Please click below if you would like to be removed from this e-mail newsletter list.
|
| |
|
|
