News Article - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Contact:	Heidi Guarino 781-338-3106 or JC Considine 781-338-3112

Eight Schools Recommended for Expanded Learning Time Funding

MALDEN - Eight schools in five districts will be recommended for funding that will allow them to redesign their school day and/or year to include more time through the state's Expanded Learning Time (ELT) initiative, Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester announced on Monday. The eight schools were selected from 37 applications received in 2008. Of that total, 27 met the guidelines for funding. Due to the anticipated appropriation of $17.5 million for ELT in FY2009, and the Commonwealth's commitment to provide continued funding to the 18 schools already implementing ELT, only a limited number of new grants could be awarded. "This was a difficult decision because so many of the applications we received this year showed great promise," Chester said. "The plans we selected are the strongest and will serve communities with great need that will benefit from this effort. Rethinking how we use our time in school is critical as we consider all we can do to provide every student with the skills and education they need to succeed in school, in college and ultimately in the 21st century workplace." Pending state appropriation, the schools being recommended for funding are:

Joseph A. Browne Middle School, Chelsea, Grades 5-8, 503 students
BF Brown Arts Vision School, Fitchburg, Grades 5-8, 483 students
Cameron Middle School, Framingham, Grades 6-8, 525 students
Brophy Elementary School, Framingham, Grades K-5, 465 students
Garfield Middle School, Revere, Grades 6-8, 500 students
A.C. Whelan Elementary School, Revere, Grades K-5, 710 students
West Street School, Southbridge, Grades 4-5, 390 students
Wells Middle School, Southbridge, Grades 6-8, 530 students

All eight schools will reopen in September with a new calendar. Schools implementing ELT are required to redesign their school calendar by adding at least 300 hours to their school year as a strategy to raise student achievement. This is the third year of the initiative, and 18 schools in eight districts are currently utilizing the longer school day and/or year model. Schools that are granted the funding receive $1300 per student based on their projected enrollments. The Expanded Learning Time initiative prompts individual schools to increase the school day and/or year in order to (1) provide students with more core instructional time in English language arts, mathematics, science and other core subjects to support student achievement; (2) add integrated enrichment opportunities for students; and (3) provide time for increased professional development for educators to plan together and participate in opportunities with other teachers and partnering community-based organizations. There are currently nearly 10,000 students across the Commonwealth enrolled in 18 Expanded Learning Time schools. The 18 current ELT schools are:

Mario Umana Academy, Boston, Grades 6-8
Clarence R. Edwards School, Boston, Grades 6-8
James P. Timilty, Boston, Grades 6-8
Boston Arts Academy, Boston, Grades 9-12
Martin Luther King Jr. School, Cambridge, Grades K-8
Fletcher Maynard, Cambridge, K-8
Bowe School, Chicopee, Grades K-5
North End School, Fall River, Grades K-5
Carlton M. Vivieros School, Fall River, Grades K-5
Matthew J. Kuss School, Fall River, Grades 6-8
Academy Middle School, Fitchburg, Grades 5-8
Newton School, Greenfield, Grades K-4
Greenfield Middle School, Greenfield, Grades 5-8
Ferryway School, Malden, Grades K-8
Salemwood School, Malden, Grades K-8
Chandler Elementary School, Worcester, Grades K-6
City View School, Worcester, Grades K-6
Jacob Hiatt Magnet, Worcester, Grades K-6

The Department's January 2008 Report to the Legislature on School Redesign: Expanded Learning Time to Support Student Success can be found at: www.doe.mass.edu/research/reports.

Last Updated: June 17, 2008