Public Policy Priorities

Citizen Schools aims to influence public policy at the city, state, and federal levels to strengthen the out-of-school-time sector. Collaboration with other sectors is vital, and partnerships with organizations committed to community building, social capital, school-to-work, service learning and national service help to build a powerful movement for systemic change. Citizen Schools' policy priorities are to:

• Support Innovation and Quality in Out-of-School Time Education
• Expand and Strengthen National Service

At a Glance

• Citizen Schools' Recommendations for the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
  
• Citizen Schools' Agenda for the 111th Congress
• Citizen Schools' Memo to President-Elect Obama's Transition Team sent in November, 2008

Out-of-School Time Education

The Time for Innovation Matters in Education (TIME) Act

In the 110th and 111th Congresses, bills that call for a National Expanded Learning Time (ELT) demonstration project were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. On July 8, 2009, the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) re-introduced the Time for Innovation Matters in Education (TIME) Act (S. 1410). The same day, Representatives Donald Payne (D-NJ) and George Miller (D-CA) introduced a companion bill (H.R. 3130).

What is Expanded Learning Time (ELT)?

Schools that adopt expanded learning time expand their schedules for all students significantly by lengthening the school day, lengthening the school year, or both. As schools respond to the demand that all students reach high standards, ELT has a growing profile as an education reform.

In partnership with the non-profit organization Massachusetts 2020, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts created an ELT pilot program in 2006. Schools participating in the ELT initiative agreed to increase learning time for their students by at least 30% in exchange for an increase in their state per-pupil funding. In 2006-07, 10 schools across five districts participated. Over the past two years, the ELT initiative has grown significantly. This year, 22 public schools in 11 districts, are expanding the school schedule to raise academic achievement and increase opportunities for enrichment.

How is Citizen Schools involved?

Since 2006, Citizen Schools has been the lead non-profit partner at two of the schools in Massachusetts that piloted Expanded Learning Time (ELT) for all of their students – the Edwards Middle School in Boston and the Salemwood School in Malden. In the fall of 2009, Citizen Schools became the lead non-profit partner at Garfield Middle School in Revere.

On all of its campuses, Citizen Schools provides students with daily homework time, volunteer-led apprenticeships, a study skills class, and experiential field trips. At the Edwards, in addition to our model, Citizen Schools staff facilitates Math League, a school-wide initiative to boost math skills through a combination of collaborative math games and time for math homework completion. Here, Citizen Schools serves the entire sixth grade, more than 100 students.

Is ELT Working?

The early results for the ELT initiative are promising. At the Edwards Middle School in Boston, results have been dramatic. From 2006 to 2009, math proficiency more than doubled – from 15% to 37% – and English Language Arts proficiency jumped from 27% to 49%. Remarkably, since it began partnering with Citizen Schools in 2006, the Edwards Middle School has reduced the achievement gap for 8th graders in math and ELA by more than 50% (Massachusetts 2020, Redesigning Today’s Schools for a Stronger Tomorrow, 2007-2008 Annual Report).

Find Out More

ELT programs are showing strong results, as announced at a Capitol Hill Briefing in April 2008. Read more about the promising partnership between Citizen Schools and Edwards Middle School in our white paper, Expanding Learning Time.

• Read Citizen Schools' case for ELT.
• Listen to President Obama’s case for ELT.
• Read the TIME Magazine article about the Education Secretary's support for ELT and the ELT initiative in Massachusetts.
  
• A Boston Globe column calls Expanded Learning Time at the Edwards Middle School "the school experiment that's paying off."
• Learn more about ELT in Massachusetts.
• Read a summary of the TIME Act, introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Other Education Bills Citizen Schools Supports

• Investment in After-School Programs Act (S. 1281) and Investment in Rural After-School Programs Act (H.R. 3078)
• Success in the Middle Act (H.R. 3006 and S. 1362)
• After School Partnerships Improve Results in Education Act (ASPIRE Act, H.R. 6928)
  

National Service

Citizen Schools supports the growth and development of AmeriCorps and national service. AmeriCorps members, including Citizen Schools Teaching Fellows, serve as vital leaders in community service across the nation. As our country faces heightening economic, educational, and environmental challenges, national service is more critical than ever.

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (H.R. 1388, previously the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education, or GIVE, Act) into law. Congress must now appropriate funds for new and expanded programs in the bill. This process is expected to move forward in the coming months of 2009.

Find out more

• Read Citizen Schools' case for national service.
• Read a summary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
• Find out more about Serve America on the Service Nation website.

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