What is ELT?

Expanded Learning Time (ELT) programs provide more time, more enrichment, and more qualified educators for America's children. Today, only 20% of children's waking hours are in the classroom, yet schools shoulder almost all of the responsibility for educating them. ELT programs give schools the opportunity to re-imagine the school day and provide students with the time, enrichment, and instruction they need to meet today's academic standards. 

Schools that adopt expanded learning time significantly extend their schedules for all students by lengthening the school day, school year, or both. ELT is gaining national momentum as a smart education reform.

Citizen Schools: An Experienced ELT Partner

Citizen Schools is a leading national education initiative that uniquely mobilizes thousands of adult volunteers to help improve student achievement by teaching skill building apprenticeships after school. These programs blend real-world learning projects with rigorous academic and leadership development activities, preparing students in the middle grades for success in high school, college and beyond. Citizen Schools operates in 39 schools across the country including several in the Bay Area serving an estimated 3,800 students and engaging 3,200 community volunteers nationally. Citizen Schools served as the lead community partner at 3 of the 10 schools in Massachusetts where ELT was piloted in 2006-07 to intensify the integration with the school day. The ELT program was collaboratively designed working with school administrators, teachers, district officials, and other community organizations.

What difference did ELT make?

• - Among the 10 schools in Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time pilot program, the number making Adequate Yearly Progress doubled in math and increased by 40% in English after the first year. 
• - As part of the Massachusetts ELT pilot program, Citizen Schools worked with all of the 6th graders at the Edwards Middle School in Boston. In the first year, 6th grade math proficiency rates increased from 15% to 32% and passage rates increased from 48% to 70%.
• - Since it began partnering with Citizen Schools in 2006, the Edwards Middle School has reduced the achievement gap for 8th graders in math and English/Language Arts by more than 50%. 

The Right Time for California - The Citizen Schools ELT Program 

Working with lead philanthropic partners, along with a major investment from the What Works and Innovation Fund, Citizen Schools plans to launch up to 30 ELT pilots in 5-6 school districts across the country and replicate the successful ELT model previously described.

The Citizen Schools ELT program is designed to expand the learning year by 400-450 hours. Key program elements of the ELT program model include:

• At least 60 minutes daily of intensive academic skill building, coaching, and homework time. ELT staff work with a core group of school day teachers to align academic support activities with grade and subject themes.
• Twice weekly 90-minute apprenticeships and other hands-on learning activities that build academic and 21st century skills.
• A community of respect and positive values. Weekly opening and closing circles celebrate achievement and build leadership skills.

The dramatic need for innovative, proven education reform in California is now. As a practitioner, Citizen Schools has extensive experience in ELT, spanning both policy and practice and would welcome further discussions on this important educational reform initative.