WE WON THE FIGHT FOR A SIX POINT FIVE HOUR SCHOOL DAY!! CHICAGO OFFICIALS FINALLY LISTENED TO OUR DEMANDS AND CHOSE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS SCHOOL LIFE BALANCE!! STAY VIGILANT TO ENSURE THIS NEW POLICY STAYS IN PLACE FOREVER!!
March 20, 2012
Final supporters
We are against a 7.5 hour school day for Chicago Public Schools--it is extreme and unnecessary. We advocate a 6.5 hour school day.
At least 13 CPS elementary schools already have a 6.5 hour day; some have for more than a decade. These schools have retained recess, physical education, art and music, and outperform the CPS average in testing. The 6.5 hour schools also outperform Chicago charter schools with a 7.5 hour or longer day. Twelve additional Chicago public schools moved to a 6.5 hour day this year with little fanfare and virtually no additional cost to CPS.
The average school day in the United States is 6.64 hours. No state has an average school day as long as 7.5 hours. We need to explore what scientific data says about extended school days. We shouldn’t just do it because it makes a good soundbite for Chicago's mayor.
There is little scientific evidence that an extended school day leads to better test scores. In fact, the National Center for Time and Learning found extended time made no difference in students’ math and language arts performance in five of the seven grade levels it examined. Among the 10 largest city school districts, more minutes per year in school does not translate to a higher graduation rate.
Children need school-life balance. There are only so many hours in a day. With a 7.5 hour school day, homework and after-school programs, there is little time left for family, friends, dinner and sleep—which are critical for academic success and healthy development. Inadequate sleep is linked to poor academic performance and childhood obesity. According to the AAP, children need unstructured time as urgently as they need a formal education.
We demand that Chicago Public Schools not extend the school day to 7.5 hours. We ask the CPS task force to examine a 6.5 hour day. The 6.5 model has been proven successful. For the sake of our children, CPS shouldn't fix what isn’t broken and instead take a closer look at what IS working.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
January 26, 2012
December 28, 2011
I AM READING EVERY SINGLE STORY YOU ARE POSTING AND THE PASSION IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! WE ARE PROVING THAT QUALITY MATTERS WAY MORE THAN JUST CLOCKING EXTRA HOURS FOR A SOUNDBITE!! STAY TUNED BECAUSE THE MOMENTUM IS BUILDING AND WE ARE GOING TO FORCE THEM TO LISTEN TO THE DATA!!
November 9, 2011
WE JUST SMASHED THROUGH THE FIRST 100 SIGNATURES!! THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND I AM SO HYPED TO SEE THIS GROWING SO FAST!!
Reached 100 supporters
November 7, 2011
6 Comments
7.5 hours is way too long for a little kid. They need time to be kids after school and play outside its crazy to think otherwise.
Ridiculous that the mayor thinks this is the answer to everything. Looking at the data these long days just dont work.
Total waste of time. The kids are just burnt out by 2pm. Keeping them there longer is just babysitting not learning.
STOP THE LONGER DAYS. let them come home and be with their families like normal people.
Quality over quantity. My daughter is exhausted by the time she gets home and she barely has time to eat dinner before homework starts.
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WE WON THE FIGHT FOR A SIX POINT FIVE HOUR SCHOOL DAY!! CHICAGO OFFICIALS FINALLY LISTENED TO OUR DEMANDS AND CHOSE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS SCHOOL LIFE BALANCE!! STAY VIGILANT TO ENSURE THIS NEW POLICY STAYS IN PLACE FOREVER!!
March 20, 2012
Final supporters
We are against a 7.5 hour school day for Chicago Public Schools--it is extreme and unnecessary. We advocate a 6.5 hour school day.
At least 13 CPS elementary schools already have a 6.5 hour day; some have for more than a decade. These schools have retained recess, physical education, art and music, and outperform the CPS average in testing. The 6.5 hour schools also outperform Chicago charter schools with a 7.5 hour or longer day. Twelve additional Chicago public schools moved to a 6.5 hour day this year with little fanfare and virtually no additional cost to CPS.
The average school day in the United States is 6.64 hours. No state has an average school day as long as 7.5 hours. We need to explore what scientific data says about extended school days. We shouldn’t just do it because it makes a good soundbite for Chicago's mayor.
There is little scientific evidence that an extended school day leads to better test scores. In fact, the National Center for Time and Learning found extended time made no difference in students’ math and language arts performance in five of the seven grade levels it examined. Among the 10 largest city school districts, more minutes per year in school does not translate to a higher graduation rate.
Children need school-life balance. There are only so many hours in a day. With a 7.5 hour school day, homework and after-school programs, there is little time left for family, friends, dinner and sleep—which are critical for academic success and healthy development. Inadequate sleep is linked to poor academic performance and childhood obesity. According to the AAP, children need unstructured time as urgently as they need a formal education.
We demand that Chicago Public Schools not extend the school day to 7.5 hours. We ask the CPS task force to examine a 6.5 hour day. The 6.5 model has been proven successful. For the sake of our children, CPS shouldn't fix what isn’t broken and instead take a closer look at what IS working.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
January 26, 2012
December 28, 2011
I AM READING EVERY SINGLE STORY YOU ARE POSTING AND THE PASSION IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! WE ARE PROVING THAT QUALITY MATTERS WAY MORE THAN JUST CLOCKING EXTRA HOURS FOR A SOUNDBITE!! STAY TUNED BECAUSE THE MOMENTUM IS BUILDING AND WE ARE GOING TO FORCE THEM TO LISTEN TO THE DATA!!
November 9, 2011
WE JUST SMASHED THROUGH THE FIRST 100 SIGNATURES!! THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND I AM SO HYPED TO SEE THIS GROWING SO FAST!!
Reached 100 supporters
November 7, 2011
6 Comments
My son is in a 6.5 hour school and he does great. Why mess with what works?
7.5 hours is way too long for a little kid. They need time to be kids after school and play outside its crazy to think otherwise.
Ridiculous that the mayor thinks this is the answer to everything. Looking at the data these long days just dont work.
Total waste of time. The kids are just burnt out by 2pm. Keeping them there longer is just babysitting not learning.
STOP THE LONGER DAYS. let them come home and be with their families like normal people.
Quality over quantity. My daughter is exhausted by the time she gets home and she barely has time to eat dinner before homework starts.
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My son is in a 6.5 hour school and he does great. Why mess with what works?