[Apshpe] Extended Learning Time

[High Plain Elementary School Mailing List]

Dear High Plain Families,

 

As you may remember from our September Open House, PTO meeting and my
newsletter, we recently applied for a planning grant to explore the
possibility of Expanding Learning Time (ELT) programming for our school.

 

I am pleased to share that the Andover Public Schools has been awarded
an Expanding Learning Time planning grant and, in the coming months, we
will be participating in a feasibility study to determine whether
expanding learning time is something that would be best for our school
community.

 

A timeline of activities is in the process of being developed, and on
November 30th a team from Andover including representatives from High
Plain Elementary will be attending an Expanding Learning Time Summit
hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Education and Governor Deval
Patrick.  This summit will highlight for us the successes and challenges
of expanding learning time.

 

After that conference I will be asking for a teacher representative and
a parent representative from each grade level to serve on a feasibility
study team.  The purpose of this team will be to learn more about
expanding learning time and to then share that information with our
greater school community.  

 

Below you will find (in an F.A.Q. format) additional information about
Expanding Learning Time:

 

o        What is Expanding Learning Time (ELT)? An initiative of the MA
Department of Education to encourage schools to extend school time by
300 hours per year

o        Why more learning time? Based on research that time is one of
the few aspects of education that has remained constant for the past 150
years

o        Why a planning grant? Andover has been awarded a planning grant
of $11,000 to allow the district and schools to undertake a year-long
feasibility study to consider ELT and, if moving ahead, create an
Implementation Plan.

o        Does this lock us into change? No. There are many exit doors
based on information gathered during the planning process. If ELT has
been thoroughly examined, discussed respectfully and with open minds,
and parents and teachers have learned about ELT, about their schools,
and about education itself, then the planning process will be a success.

o        Is this just to get more money? No. Expanding Learning Time is
being considered as one option to allow the district to attain its
goals, such as those found in the individual School Improvement Plans,
Curriculum Initiatives, MCAS Action Plans, etc.

o        What happens during the planning process? Learning about ELT
through review of literature, consultation with other districts, and
work with experts; and consideration of effects on all parties,
including students. If results are positive, then to obtain buy-in from
teachers, collective bargaining representatives, and parents; and to
create an Implementation Plan including learning plan, teacher contract,
and schedule modifications.

o        Who has a say in the planning process? School-Based ELT Teams
will include the Principal and at least one teacher and parent at each
grade level. The district Design Team will include collective bargaining
representatives, teachers, parents, and school administrators.
Superintendent Claudia Bach, and the School Committee, will approve a
final Implementation Plan.

o        What would the school day/year look like in 2009 - 2010? The
format is up to each school and designed during the planning year. It
might even differ between schools, but it must include more time for
core academic subjects, more enrichment activities, and more time for
professional development and common planning time

o        How would we pay for a longer school day/year? Schools that
create an Implementation Plan (approved by the DOE) receive $1300 per
student for implementation (continuation grants are currently available
for future years). Although current funding is no guarantee of future
funding, ELT is an expanding initiative in its third year in
Massachusetts. The federal government is looking at funding a similar
initiative that would provide money to state Departments of Education to
fund their ELT programs.

o        How did schools decide to participate in this feasibility
study? All school principals received study materials and after
discussion and question/answer session at the administrative retreat,
solicited input from staff and parents, and then elected to participate
to this point or not. The district supports both the decision to
participate and not to participate.

o        What if my school chooses to implement a longer school day/year
in 2009 - 2010? All students enrolled in schools that implement ELT must
participate in the longer day/year. During the planning process, the
district will consider alternatives for parents and teachers who may not
want to be a part of an ELT school for this reason. 

o        What if my school wasn't included this year, or doesn't choose
to implement ELT in 2009 - 2010? Districts can apply in future years for
new planning grants for additional schools. The district will also
consider options for parents and teachers to opt into ELT schools as
part of the planning process.

o        When will we learn more? There is an ELT Summit in Boston on
November 30. District administrators will attend to hear from the state
DOE and Mass2020, a nonprofit organization that supports schools
planning for and implementing ELT projects. After that meeting, Andover
will start its planning process, including communication to parents,
staff, and students.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mara L. Rubino

Administrative Assistant

High Plain Elementary 

 

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