For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Contact:Heidi Guarino 781-338-3106 or JC Considine 781-338-3112

28 Districts Awarded Planning Grants to Expand Learning Time

RANDOLPH - Educators in 28 districts have been awarded planning grants to explore ways to increase the learning time in their districts by at least 300 hours per school year. The Board of Education voted on Tuesday to award grants of up to $11,000 to each of the 28 districts that applied for the Expanded Learning Time (ELT) planning grants. This is the third year the state is issuing these grants. "We are excited to award additional grants, because we are already seeing innovations that hold great promise to improve student performance in schools already implmenting he program," said Acting Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus. "When districts think creatively about how to reorganize their school day and make the best possible use of this extra time, our students benefit. It's as simple as that." In all, the Board approved $230,000 in planning grants this year. Districts planning to implement ELT in four or more schools received the highest amounts. To qualify for implementation grants, districts must submit proposals showing that by expanding the learning time in their schools they will provide more time for core subjects, student enrichment, professional development and common planning time for teachers. Districts planning to start their new schedules in September 2008 must submit their preliminary implementation plans by January. Districts planning to start their new schedules in September 2009 must submit their implementation plans by August 2008. Preliminary decisions for the 2008 start-ups will be made by in May, pending Legislative approval. Nearly 10,000 students across the Commonwealth are currently enrolled in the 18 schools in eight districts that have already implemented ELT. This includes seven elementary schools, six middle schools, four K-8 schools and one high school. Seven of the eight participating communities are urban districts. The districts awarded planning grants are:
DistrictAmount Awarded
Amherst-Pelham$7,000
Andover$11,000
Athol-Royalston$7,000
Barnstable$7,000
Beverly$7,000
Central Berkshire Regional$7,000
Chelsea$11,000
FallRiver$11,000
Fitchburg$7,000
Framingham$11,000
Greenfield$9,000
Haverhill$7,000
Leominster$7,000
Lynn$9,000
Mashpee$9,000
Middleborough$7,000
Northampton$7,000
NorthMiddlesexRegional$7,000
Norwood$7,000
Revere$7,000
Sandwich$7,000
Somerville$11,000
Springfield$7,000
Taunton$9,000
Waltham$11,000
Wareham$7,000
Winthrop$7,000
Worcester$9,000
Total Districts28
Total Schools67
Total Students32,037
Total Awarded$230,000




Last Updated: October 30, 2007



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