President Obama's Education Reform Plan
Longer Days and Shorter Summer Vacations May Be in the Future
Sep 28, 2009
President Obama believes longer school days and years are vital for schoolchildren to be able to compete in the new global economy. Obama’s remarks came during a March 10, 2009 speech at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The current school-year calendar stems from a time when children needed to be home to help on the family farm. Obama said the current calendar puts us at a disadvantage with students from other countries such as South Korea. He would like to increase class time adding several hours to the school day and allowing schools to stay open on the weekend as a safe haven for students. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne backs Obama’s education plan. He has stated that he believes children lose too much information over the summer.
Year-Round School
Many schools in the U.S. are already undergoing a year-round school schedule. This school schedule typically allows for shorter summer breaks and two-week breaks both in the fall and spring. Proponents of the year-round school system believe that the increased learning exposure helps struggling students. In addition, it prevents student and teacher burnout by having frequent breaks instead of one long break.
Others vehemently oppose the idea of year-round school. A group of parents in Wake Forest, North Carolina sued the school district for implementing mandatory year-round school. Their case was heard by the North Carolina Supreme Court in December, 2008. Indeed, several studies, including one from Ohio State University in 2007, have found that students’ test scores did not improve over those students attending a regular school schedule.
Longer School Days
Massachusetts is at the forefront of education reform with its Expanded Learning Time Initiative. This program launched in 2005 in selected public schools, and requires an additional 300 school hours per year. The school day is lengthened an additional two to three hours a day. Early results have shown higher test scores in all schools implementing the program. The additional hours allow students to complete more homework in school and allow them time to participate in activities such as taekwondo, yoga and dance. Teachers who participate received 9 to 18 percent raises.
The TIME Act
Senator Kennedy introduced legislation known as the TIME Act (Time for Innovation Matters in Education) before he died that would provide federal funding for expanded learning. He cited the success of his state’s Expanded Learning Time Initiative in a call for expanded education throughout the nation.
However, it may be a while before Senator Kennedy's fruitions come to light. Obama’s education reform plans are on the backburner as he seeks passage of his healthcare agenda and battles a turbulent economy. Until then, children can still look forward to the 3:00 school bell.
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