This article was submitted to the ELT Blog from Kath Reilly, Brophy ELT Coordinator. Information from Mass2020.
President Obama's Landmark Education Speech Calls for Expanded Learning Time
This week, President Barack Obama charged the country to expand learning time to help America's students compete in the world: "We can no longer afford an academic calendar designed when America was a nation of farmers who needed their children at home plowing the land at the end of each day. That calendar may have once made sense, but today, it puts us at a competitive disadvantage. Our children spend over a month less in school than children in South Korea. That is no way to prepare them for a 21st century economy. That is why I'm calling for us not only to expand effective after-school programs, but to rethink the school day to incorporate more time - whether during the summer or through expanded-day programs for children who need it...the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom. If they can do that in South Korea, we can do it right here in the United States of America."
To watch President Obama's speech in its entirety, click here.
Express Your Support for ELT!
It's time for your voice to be heard on Beacon Hill in support of ELT! The Massachusetts Legislature is currently considering its budget and it is crucial that your legislator understands the importance of ELT to your school and community. Contact your representatives and senators and ask them to maintain Governor Patrick's funding for ELT at $17.5 million in his budget. Find your legislators here or by contacting Blair Brown at Massachusetts 2020.
Massachusetts ELT Initiative Leads the Nation
Massachusetts' Expanded Learning Time Schools are leading the nation in getting results as they redesign and expand the school day. And now leaders from around the country are taking note of Massachusetts' success and are following our lead. Both the President and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan are calling for an expanded school day. You can watch Secretary Duncan on CNN talk about the need for more time here or read the related article here.
In addition, Jay Mathews, an education columnist with the Washington Post, features the Massachusetts ELT Initiative as an innovation that is getting results in his column on Monday, March 2.
Following the lead of Massachusetts, Ohio's Governor Ted Strickland has proposed an initiative to expand the school year and Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett is proposing to expand learning time.
More Time Critical for Well-Rounded Education
Two recent studies show that students thrive when they have well-rounded education. With all the demands put on schools, it is clear that expanded learning time is necessary to incorporate both the arts, identified as critical by a recent report by The Boston Foundation, as well as physical activity, as the Pediatrics Journal report shows is necessary for students' success.
Hear directly from students on the impact ELT has had.
