Federal plan would expand school year – as California's shrinks

05-17-2011

By Louis Freedberg/California Watch

Even as school districts around California are shrinking their school year, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington is trying to push states to move in the opposite direction. Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, and other Democratic and GOP lawmakers, have introduced the Time for Innovation Matters in Education Act [PDF] to reward school districts that increase instruction time. "It's not just about schools, it's about changing the mindset of the general public about public education," Honda told Education Week. "We understand that more time means better performance for students and closure of the achievement gap. We need to start making an investment in the time young people have to learn." However well-intentioned, the bill is emblematic of the mismatch between expectations emanating from Washington and the realities facing California school districts struggling to stay afloat. (more...)

Also: Education Week

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Federal plan would expand school year – as California's shrinks

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