The singular purpose of public education is to ready the next generation for the future—to maximize their personal prospects, as well as to ensure the continued health of our collective society. And because our society is growing increasingly complex, and our economy ever more global, young people must develop an unprecedented array of skills—in computers and technology, problem-solving and critical thinking, written and oral communication, and teamwork—in addition to learning a wide range of knowledge in the core academic subjects, including literacy, math, science and social studies.
As we imagine future success for our children in higher education, in the workplace and in their communities – a success that depends upon being adequately prepared – we must continually ask: are our schools well-designed to provide all children, especially those who face significant barriers to learning, a robust educational experience?
Massachusetts 2020 and a growing chorus of educators, policymakers and civic leaders believe that given all that students must know and be able to do to thrive in tomorrow’s world, a schedule of 180 six-and-a-half hour days—a mere 20 percent of a child’s waking hours—is simply inadequate to the task. More time is required to accommodate an educational program that focuses on high standards and includes more experiential learning and enrichment activities that encourage independent thinking and discovery, not to mention more opportunities for individualized instruction and common planning for teachers.
In short, with the opportunities that an expanded schedule opens up, schools can draw closer to achieving their core goals for students:
- Proficiency in core academic subjects; and
- Mastery of 21st century skills (oral and written presentation, problem-solving, teamwork, and application of technology) across core subject areas.
Further, the comprehensive redesign process that accompanies the expansion of the school schedule is intended to encourage a renewed focus on:
- Enabling students to overcome barriers to learning and increase their engagement in school;
- Involving students in a broad array of enrichment opportunities (arts, apprenticeships, physical education, etc.) and cultivating a wide range of skills across developmental domains; and
- Enhancing teachers’ instructional practices, through constructive feedback, common planning and meaningful professional development.
For descriptions of how the current ELT schools are capitalizing on the opportunity to expand the school day for their students, click here.
