BENEFITS OF EXTENDED SCHOOL TIMING

Benefits of Extended School Timing



Benefits of Extended School Timings

Introduction

The main purpose of this writing is to discuss the benefits of extended school hours in Newark New Jersey public school. Time is one of countless resources managed by schools for the purpose of educating children (Devin, 2007). Other resources include staff, curriculum, teacher training and development, facilities, and transportation. Extended learning time has emerged as a promising policy option over the last several decades, with greater interest in recent years (Devin, 2007).

Discussion

Extended learning time can take several forms. Schools can add time to existing school days or add days to the school year. Schools and/or other providers can offer after-school programs and summer school sessions (Silva, 2007). Many education researchers, policy analysts and program evaluators have investigated extended learning time over the past several decades, and have put forward theories about the value (or lack of value) of extended learning time based mostly on quasi-experimental or non-experimental studies and anecdotal evidence (Devin, 2007). Extended learning time is further efficient for deprived children than for the children belonging to middle or high socio-economic status. Extended learning time programs have been more effective in primary and secondary grades than in middle school (Silva, 2007). It is more cost effective to extend the school day than to extend a school year. Research has demonstrated that simply adding more time to the school schedule translate directly to higher academic achievement (Silva, 2007). Extended-Day Programs are part of the normal school day, adding between a half-hour and two hours of school time (Aronson, 2009).

Schools can use this time to lengthen regular classes, or they can add specific programs such as academic or enrichment activities, electives, tutoring, and career experiences (Aronson, 2009). Some schools have built in extra teacher planning time to extended schedules (Silva, 2007). These programs typically utilize existing staff whose contracts have been adjusted for their extra time, although they may supplement with extra professional or para-professional staff (Aronson, 2009).

Proponents of extended learning time generally propose it as a means of improving academic achievement, although they identify other benefits that may or may not be related to academic achievement (Aronson, 2009). Some proponents argue that all children should be in school longer, due to the increasing demand for knowledge and skills in the global marketplace and our apparent educational disadvantage. American children have too much free time, some argue, ...