Some say time is ticking away
I wrote a story for Monday’s paper about what Vinita’s Hall-Halsell Elementary School is doing to maximize the time in the school day.
Hall-Halsell Principal Cathy Williams provided a local perspective on what other schools can expect from time reform efforts in the coming year. But what about a national perspective?
“Oklahoma is part of a growing national movement to rethink the way that time is being used in schools,” said Leigh Hopkins, national network director for the National Center on Time & Learning.
“When you look at time reform as a whole — a longer school year or a longer school day — there are examples of more than 1,000 schools across the country that have added more time in one way or another,” she said.
The Boston-based center developed the free, online and exclusive-to-Oklahoma time assessment tool that Sooner schools must use this year.
Hopkins said the result of such efforts is that test scores go up, teachers have more time to work together, outside organizations forge stronger partnerships and parents are happy because their children have time for more electives and experiences.
Hopkins also was a part of presentations on the subject this month at the State Department of Education’s annual leadership conference.
The teachers and superintendents who attended seemed receptive to the plans, she said.
Added Hopkins: “We actually had a few people come up to us and say, ‘It’s about time.’ ”
Do you think it’s time for a change? Share your thoughts with others here on NewsOK’s Education Station.
Oh, and speaking of time, I’ve been away for a few days at a seminar in New York for education reporters. Check back for my next posting about the highlights of my trip, from the subway to the speakers.
Wendy Kleinman
Education Reporter
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