January 13, 2010

Governor Deval Patrick, along with Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Superintendent Carol Johnson recently visited the Edwards Middle School in Charlestown to tout its highly successful school transformation that has been driven by its conversion to an expanded school day.

The group visited several classrooms before being entertained by the school's acclaimed step team and chorus. In just three years since expanding the school day, the Edwards has reduced the achievement gap with the state by eighty-percent in ELA and two-thirds in science and eighth graders now exceed the state average proficiency rate by eight points in math. You can learn more about the school's impressive turnaround in this case study recently published by Mass 2020.