Over
the last year administrators working collaboratively with the Needham Education
Association (NEA) Executive Board agreed to consider a possible extension of
the school day to meet identified programmatic and instructional issues. More recently the Committee on Extended
Time (CET) worked to propose a direction and schedule that provides more time
on learning for students, increases K – 5 student programming, and ensures
structured and consistent time for teacher planning and collaboration.
The
committee understands that it is impossible to create an ideal schedule given
the practical realities of budgets, bus schedules, and family concerns and
needs. However, the committee
believes this proposal is grounded in the district’s core values and goals,
developmentally appropriate, innovative in design, and will offer the children
of Needham creative and worthwhile learning experiences that will allow them to
grow, learn, and thrive in the 21st Century.
The proposal for
extended time in the Needham Public Schools is exciting and innovative. It will enrich the student experience
and provide educators with the time and structures necessary to continue to
grow and refine their practice in ways that will further enhance and empower
student growth, learning, and achievement.
• At the elementary level the CET proposes new and expanded curricular
offerings, including PE/Wellness, Spanish, the arts, technology, and
robotics/engineering.
Additionally, consistent teacher preparation and collaboration time is introduced into the school day to
ensure teachers have the time necessary to plan, work together, and support
their students.
• At the middle schools the addition of ten minutes would expand existing
programming and allow the schools to count the additional time on learning
toward the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) secondary
school standard of 990 minimum instructional hours. Additional teacher
collaboration and professional development time would also enhance the student
experience.
• The high school would not increase student programming or time on
learning, but teacher collaboration and meeting time is proposed to increase on
a regular and consistent schedule that would minimally impact after school
help, tutoring, and student activities.
The committee acknowledged that a significant change
like the one proposed requires significant and new resources for the schools,
and it will require all school staff—teachers, teacher assistants, technicians,
principals, secretaries—to think and work differently on behalf of the students
of the Needham Schools. Thus the
implementation of a new schedule will require patience, creativity,
flexibility, and openness to change and growth. And the planning and communication to staff, parents,
students, and the community must be clear, thoughtful, and compelling.
We
hope the School Committee and the community will support this bold proposal to
enhance teaching and learning in the Needham Public Schools for all children.
For
more information and details about the proposal: Extended
Time Report to the School Committee.
