Parent Survey on Extended Learning Time

To find out what parents of students in Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Schools are thinking about the redesigned and expanded school day, Massachusetts 2020 contracted with JEF Associates to survey parents at three of the 10 ELT schools: the Jacob Hiatt Magnet School in Worcester (K-6), the Kuss Middle School in Fall River (6-8) and the Umana/Barnes Middle School in Boston (6-8). They reached about 250 parents overall in these schools.

FINDINGS

A summary of the results of the survey:

_ 75% of parents believe that the expanded schedule is much or somewhat better for their child

_ 77% of parents report that their child is performing better in school as a result of the expanded schedule

_ 72% of parents believe the quality of their child’s education has improved

_ 79% of parents agree, with 48% of parents strongly agreeing, that more schools in the state should expand their schedule

In addition to the three schools surveyed by Massachusetts 2020, the Martin Luther King School in Cambridge – a school with approximately 225 students – conducted its own survey of parents, using similar questions as those in the Massachusetts 2020 survey.

A summary of the results of that survey:

_ 87% of parents feel that their children are achieving more academically this year as a result of the expanded learning time

_ 88% of parents felt their children came home with positive statements about school

_ 92% of parents feel that we have met our objectives for the expanded school day

_ 77% of families felt the expanded day had a positive impact on their families’ lives

_ 81% of families work the same hours and less this year, as a result of the new school hours, while 17% work more and 1% work fewer hours

_ 71% felt that their children were not too tired as a result of ELT

Source: www.mass2020.org

Review of Meeting with the Mass School Building Authority

Superintendent Jim Montepare and I recently met with officials of the Massachusetts School Building Authority at their offices in Boston.

At this meeting, Joseph Buckley, Chief Engineer of the MSBA, gave a detailed review of the processes involved with school districts requesting state funding, and more specifics regarding how this applies to the North Adams School District.

The North Adams School District has made the “first cut” in the MSBA’s selection of those districts being considered for funding (as has the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District). Officially, we are in the “pipeline” for funding of a feasibility study. This feasibility study would take approximately six months to complete.

The process from beginning to end is full collaboration between MSBA and the North Adams School District. They would work with the school district and the city through the entire process, with the focus to design and implement a construction project that meets the education program goals of the school district. Stated in the meeting, “We want your buildings to accommodate your education program.”

The entire process timeline from the signing of the Initial Compliance Agreement to the start of construction is estimated to be 12 to 18 months.