Extended Learning Time
What is Extended Learning Time (ELT)?
Extended learning time (ELT) is exactly what it sounds like—providing students with more instruction time by lengthening the academic day, week, or year.
School districts across the country have offered ELT as a proven strategy leading to raised student achievement, enriched educational opportunities, and empowered teachers. Extended learning time can:
- provide students with the time they need and deserve by providing more instructional opportunities in literacy, math, science, and other core subjects to increase student achievement;
- increase student interest in learning by integrating enrichment opportunities into ELT; and
- strengthen and support teaching by providing educators with increased opportunities to plan and to participate in professional development.
What Role Could ELT Play in CCSD's Innovation Zone Learning Community (IZLC) Schools?
The next stage of the district's strategic plan, Charleston Achieving Excellence (CAE): Vision 2016, will set bold achievement goals and focus the district's work on literacy-based learning and effective teaching and leadership. If approved, ELT would play a key role in helping students and teachers in the Innovation Zone Learning Community (IZLC) meet the Vision 2016 targets and excel.
Based on the feedback from IZLC families and teachers, the IZLC would like to add 20 days to the school year at each of the 14 IZLC schools. Adding these days would add an additional 140 instructional hours to the school year.
Please note that no decision about ELT has been made at this time. The district is currently reviewing the feedback provided by families and staff. Thank you to everyone who has provided input at public meetings, through the online survey, and with the ParentLink phone survey.
