July 9, 2009

Senator Edward Kennedy recently highlighted the Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative and uses it as a model in redesigning and expanding the school day for states and districts across the country. Senator Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate's Health Education Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee, introduced the Time for Innovation Matters in Education (TIME) Act, and cited the 22 Massachusetts ELT schools for their pioneering work.

Congressmen George Miller (D-CA) and Donald Payne (D-NJ) filed companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) demonstrated their leadership and commitment to innovation in education by co-sponsoring this legislation.

President Barack Obama has called for a significant restructuring of public schools in America in order to accelerate school improvement. The TIME Act supports this call by enabling traditional public schools to redesign their day to add significantly more learning time for children in the country's poorest communities. The TIME Act would provide federal funding to launch initiatives to expand learning time in low-performing, high poverty schools in order to boost student performance, close academic achievement gaps, allow more time for teachers to participate in quality professional development, and expand enrichment opportunities for our nation's most under-served students.

In his remarks for the Congressional Record, Senator Kennedy said, "Expanded learning is an idea whose time has come, thanks in large part to the leadership of Massachusetts. As John Adams wrote in the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780, the education of the people is 'necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties.' Ever since, Massachusetts has been ahead of the curve in education reform. In recent years, the Commonwealth has developed a significant Expanded Learning Time Initiative that enables schools to offer 300 additional hours of instruction during the school year, allocated as each school chooses. The initiative began with 10 schools in 2006. Twenty-two schools are now participating, and more than 40 are now planning to participate."

With this legislation, states and districts will be able to follow the lead of the pioneering teachers, leaders, parents and community members in the 12 Massachusetts communities who are committed to providing their students with a new school day that allows them to compete in global economy of the 21st Century.

To find more information about the TIME Act, click here.