TN School Day Could Be Extended

WKMS | By Whitney Jones

Published December 3, 2012 at 8:14 AM CST

Students in some Tennessee public schools will add at least 300 learning hours in a pilot program making the school day a little longer. WPSD reports five states including Tennessee will participate in the three-year pilot program affecting almost 20,000 students in 40 schools. Those involved with see their day get longer, their school year extended, or both. Federal and state funds will cover the costs in addition to grants from the Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time and Learning. Education officials say students get access to a more well-rounded curriculum if they spend more time in the classroom. The move could also make US schools more competitive globally. Other participating states include Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

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Whitney Jones

Whitney grew up listening to Car Talk to and from her family’s beach vacation each year, but it wasn’t until a friend introduced her to This American Life that radio really grabbed her attention. She is a recent graduate from Union University in Jackson, Tenn., where she studied journalism. When she’s not at WKMS, you can find her working on her backyard compost pile and garden, getting lost on her bicycle or crocheting one massive blanket.

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