Tools

Initiative looking into benefit of increasing time students spend in school

By HILARY LANE

Story Created: Dec 4, 2012 at 2:58 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 4, 2012 at 2:58 PM EDT

New York is one of five states that are taking part in a pilot project to increase the amount of time kids spend in the classroom by 300 hours a year.

The initiative, also launching in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado, and Tennessee, is funded by federal dollars and is the first of its kind.

Eight schools in Rochester are participating at this time.

How would local parents feel if area schools took part in the program?

"That's a lot of time to spend in school," said Kim Harvey of New Hartford. "That's like putting them in full-time work.That is demanding on children."

"Frequent exposure would help them to understand concepts better and hopefully they will grasp better and prepare them for their future," said Robert Virgil of Utica.

Local teachers would have to negotiate and approve modified terms for this program to come to the area.

What's On