Do Longer School Days Help Raise a Student’s Grades?

Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2010

Jacksonville, Florida - When compared to other countries, American children spend the least time in school - 180. Students in Japan spend the most number of days in school - 243.

There's a move in the U.S. to add 20 school days to the school year and make the days last longer, giving kids more instructional time. The strategy is working for a national charter school and one local Bay area school is giving the longer school day a try.

The public charter school called KIPP stands for Knowledge is Power Program and serves 5th through 8th grade. The state's first KIPP School opened this August in Jacksonville with 5th graders. There are 99 schools nationwide, all known for having longer school days.

"The four years our children spend here 5th through 8th grade...the impact will equate to seven years of school in a traditional public school," says Tom Majdanics, executive director of KIPP Jacksonville schools.

Students attend nine and a half hour long school days ending at five in the afternoon, tack on an hour of study hall, plus Saturday school twice a month and an extra two weeks to the school year.

"When I learned I'd have longer hours, ah man," says 10-year-old Rita Coleman.

"Tell you the truth, don't like it, kind of tiring me out, get home all this homework," adds 10-year-old Taveion Christopher.

Two months into the school year and students say they're hooked. The longer days provide an hour of physical education each day and an hour of instruction on a musical instrument.

"Now I'm glad I took that risk. I'm at a better school. The more hours you have, the more time you have to learn," says Rita.

"I'm more dedicated to work. At my old school, it was boring. Got here, very exciting, makes you want to learn more," adds Taveion.

The students' goal is clear -- it's written on the walls in their classrooms. In large numbers appears the year 2018. The school's hallways are decorated with inspiring messages and college pennants.

"2018 is the year we all go to college," explains Taveion.

Rita adds, "The question is not if you are going to college, it's what college are you going to."

But do longer school days and longer school years work? Research shows the extra time produces just a small gain in student achievement. The same research says what matters is quality time in the classroom, not quantity. KIPP teachers say they make every second count.

"Education is their route out," says Sean Jackson, KIPP math teacher. "There is a 3-fold commitment -- the staff, the kids and parents -- working really, really hard together."

Jackson says a longer school day is just one factor in a student's success.

"When you have the extended school day, it is high quality instruction, also character education and teamwork and support. So, when you get all those things, that mix, it's a winner of a combination," explains Jackson.

Majdanics says high quality teachers are an important part of the formula. "We're searching for the magic bullet and more time may seem like the magic bullet and more time is important. But more time with below average teachers probably won't lead to high academic gains."

KIPP officials say 85 percent of their 8th graders go on to college after high school compared to 20 to 30 percent of 8th graders from low income neighborhoods across the country.

"85 percent is a number [that] blows the status quo out of the water," adds Majdanics.

Gibbs High School leaders in St. Petersburg hope extending their school day will produce similar results. Starting in mid-October, students started receiving 44 additional minutes of instruction each day.

"We have lots of struggling students at our school," says reading teacher Kelly Maier.

The Gibbs High School teacher says about two-thirds of the students are below grade level in reading and math. Gibbs' D grade forced the state to intervene. Gibbs has three years to add 300 hours of instruction per school year.

"We are bell to bell, every moment the students in our class have more opportunity for us to feed their brain," says Maier.

Last month, Gibbs switched from a seven period school day to a modified block schedule. Classes are now 95 minutes long. Despite some resistance, some students admit it's working.

"I've become more focused more active in class," says Nathaniel Sanders. The 17-year-old senior says the extra class time helps. "By being in the class longer, you have time to catch up on work, go ahead get the concept of your work and focus, instead of rushing through your work."

"Now we're learning more and our grades are better than they were last grading period," adds Chris Curry, 16, 10th grader.

A longer school day and longer school year -- a concept many educators believe will one day be the norm for all students.

KIPP plans to open two more schools in Jacksonville.

Gibbs school leaders say this year's FCAT will show whether or not the longer school days are working.

Isabel Mascarenas, 10 News

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