In 2004, Kuss Middle School became the first school declared "Chronically Underperforming" by the state of Massachusetts. But by 2010, Kuss had transformed itself into a model for schools around the country seeking a comprehensive turnaround strategy. Kuss is using increased learning time as the primary catalyst to accelerate learning,…

These "Stories From the Field" describe five Wallace-funded programs working to expand learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children, so they can benefit from the types of opportunities their wealthier counterparts have access to, from homework help to swimming classes. The report details each program's approach, successes and…

Just a few years ago, Boston's Clarence Edwards Middle School was on the verge of being shut down. By 2009, a renaissance at the Edwards made it one of the highest performing and most desired middle schools in Boston, dramatically narrowing and even eliminating academic achievement gaps while delivering a far more well-rounded education to its…

In recent years policymakers have increasingly looked to Extended Learning Time (ELT) as a means of improving student outcomes. As a result, some school districts have increased academic time for students by adding time to the school day or days to the school year. In other communities, schools and community-based organizations have partnered to…

Underserved youths are affected by a variety of circumstances such as poverty, poor nutrition, and low physical activity levels. While many extended-day physical activity programs exist, few focus on the importance of health and wellness. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of an extended-day program for underserved youths…

Describes development of a before-and-after-school extended day program for a magnet school. (RH)

Massachusetts is heralded nationally for being the first in the nation to enact a state policy to redesign and expand the learning day for all students to advance academic achievement, broaden enrichment opportunities, and improve instruction. The Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Initiative has gained momentum over the past several years due to the…

Attempting to respond to differing community opinions about an all-day kindergarten in a period of budget problems, Superintendent Robert L. Zorn helped institute a program in which the afternoon session was optional, to be supported by a $100 "lab fee." (JM)

This booklet is part of a series of reports on "hot topics" in education. It discusses after-school programs, sometimes referred to as "extended-day" programs, which are often operated in school buildings but may be implemented in other community locations. The booklet offers a brief overview of the research on after-school…

Describes an extended school day program in the Dade County (Florida) schools that was tested on 4,000 Title I eligible elementary students. In all but one case, the pilot groups surpassed the achievement of children in regular Title I programs. (Author/IRT)

The paper describes the PROVE School, an alternative high school providing behavioral and academic programming using an extended school day concept for profoundly behavior disordered students in Proviso township, Maywood, Illinois. The extended day concept of crisis intervention (in which students are allowed to leave school for the day only when…

This paper discusses the magnet school concept as a potential approach for achieving school desegregation while producing educational and social benefits for white and minority students alike. The author begins by reviewing the history of school desegregation in North Carolina from 1954 to the present, then briefly discusses the birth of…

This paper examines the anticipated advantages and disadvantages of a proposed trimester plan for a Birmingham (Alabama) high school. The proposed plan would maintain the usual length school year, simply dividing it into three "mesters", rather than the traditional two. The Birmingham trimester plan also would lengthen each class period…

This second part of an article written a year ago describes a postpartum program for adolescent mothers which offers help to all participants in a prenatal program whether or not participants express a need for help. Services are offered on a home visit basis. (CM)

Describes features of the Arlington County (Virginia) Extended Day program, which has been in existence for nine years, is designed to provide after-school-hours day care for the elementary school children of working parents, and is in operation in 21 of Arlington's 25 elementary schools. (TA)