Since its beginnings in 2004, Expanded Learning Time in Massachusetts has grown exponentially, fueled by the support of our elected leaders along with leaders in the education, philanthropic, and public policy arenas. Below is a timeline of significant milestones the initiative has reached.


Late 2004

• Massachusetts 2020 formed a prestigious Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Advisory Board composed of education, political, and civic leaders representing state government, schools, foundations, state teacher unions, principals, Harvard University, and the Rennie Center for Education Reform
• Filed amicus curiae brief in Hancock v. Driscoll making the case that additional time is needed to meet the academic standards set by state law

2005 – 2006

• June 2005 – $500,000 adopted into Massachusetts state budget for Expanded Learning Time (ELT) planning grants to allow school districts to create plans to expand the school day and/or year          
• Fall 2005 – Massachusetts 2020 partners with Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) to develop and implement the RFP for district ELT planning grants and recruits 20 districts to apply for grants
• November 2005 – ESE awards ELT planning grants to 16 school districts interested in expanding the school day/year in Fall 2006
• November 2005 – Massachusetts 2020 releases the groundbreaking research report “Time for a Change: The Promise of Extended-Time Schools for Promoting Student Achievement,” funded by the Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation       
• November 2005 – April 2006 – Massachusetts 2020 provides intensive technical assistance to 25 schools in 16 districts that received planning grants
• November 2005 & March 2006 – Massachusetts 2020 and ESE hold two statewide conferences for districts participating in the planning process
• January 2006 – Governor Mitt Romney recommends $15 million in state funding for school districts participating in ELT planning grant program to implement an expanded, redesigned schedule in Fall 2006
• January 2006 – Massachusetts 2020 partners with the Center for American Progress to develop a case study on expanded learning time to impact the broader education reform policy agenda nationally
• April 2006 – ESE approves the ELT implementation plans of eight school districts making them eligible for state funding pending negotiated labor agreements
• July 2006 – $6.5 million approved in final state budget, fully funding all five districts and allowing for a new round of planning grants in 2007. Massachusetts 2020 leads advocacy effort by districts, teachers, parents, and representatives to secure state financing for ELT implementation
• September 2006 – 10 schools in 5 districts open with fully redesigned schedules that expand the school day by two hours, thereby adding the equivalent of 55 school days to the schedule
• November 2006 – ESE awards ELT planning grants to 29 districts to consider ELT implementation in 2007 and 2008
• November 2006 – Massachusetts 2020 and ESE hold the Second Annual ELT Summit with 200 teachers, principals, administrators, union leaders, and policy leaders attending

2007 – 2008

• January 2007 – Governor Deval Patrick recommends $13 million for ELT funding in FY08 state budget
• May 2007 – ESE approves ELT proposals for nine new schools from seven districts for implementation in Fall 2007
• June 2007 – State Legislature and Governor Patrick approve $13 million for ELT in FY2008 state budget, thereby doubling ELT funding
• September 2007 – Nine more schools open as newly redesigned ELT schools bringing the total number of ELT schools to 18 serving 9,100 students
• November 2007 – ESE awards ELT planning grants to 29 districts to consider ELT implementation in 2008 and 2009
• November 2007 – Massachusetts 2020 releases first ELT Annual Report and releases promising results from first year of ELT implementation
• November 2007 – ESE and Massachusetts 2020 co-host A New School Day: the Third Annual ELT Summit at UMass-Boston. More than 600 educators, policymakers, union leaders, parents, and community members attend
• January 2008 – Governor Patrick recommends $26 million for ELT in the FY09 budget
• January 2008 – ESE approves ELT proposals from 16 schools for implementation in Fall 2008
• May 2008 – ESE approves ELT proposals for another 12 schools, bringing the total of approved plans to 28 eligible for implementation in Fall 2008
• June 2008 – State Legislature and Governor Patrick approve $17.5 million for ELT in FY2009 state budget. Increase in funding allows eight more schools to implement in 2008, but prevents the 18 others with approved plans from going forward
• September 2008 – Eight more redesigned schools open their doors as ELT schools bringing the total number of ELT schools in Massachusetts to 26 across 12 districts