Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement Additional learning time can help close the gap between low- and high-performing students. It can provide academic support that extends beyond the help that students receive during regular school hours. An expert panel developed a Practice Guide featuring five recommendations to help districts, schools, and program providers design, implement, and evaluate local programs. The guide describes the research supporting each recommendation, how to carry it out, and how to address roadblocks for implementation. For the purposes of this website, these five recommendations have been merged into four practices.
Multimedia Overview Increasing Learning Time to Improve Academic Achievement
A growing body of research evidence indicates that additional learning time can promote students' academic achievement. Districts and schools can provide additional learning opportunities as part of a longer school day, week, or year; or as an out-of-school program before or after school, on weekends, or during the summer months. This multimedia overview describes research-based practices to effectively design, implement, and evaluate efforts to provide additional learning time. (8:17 min)Explore these recommended practices:
- <<Align Instruction
Align out-of-school academic activities with instruction provided during the regular school day. - <<Maximize Attendance
Maximize student participation and attendance. - <<Organize Instruction
Provide engaging instruction tailored to students' needs, a part of out-of-school programs. - <<Structure Time
Structure instructional time to engage, enrich, and support students, as part of a longer school day, week, or year. - <<Evaluate Program
Evaluate implementation and outcomes to improve program quality.
Multimedia Overview
More Time for Learning
This slideshow provides an overview of the different types of increased learning time programs featured in this topic. This topic also offers resources for both academically oriented out-of-school programs and for the operation of expanded learning time schools. Out-of-school programs include before- and after-school and weekend programs and summer schools. Expanded learning time schools are identified by adding more hours to the traditional school day or more days to the school year. This slideshow details some of the issues to be considered in the implementation of these models.
Visual Diagram Increased Learning Time: Beyond the Regular School Day
This diagram serves as a visual overview of practices recommended by the IES Practice Guide, Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement. District and school administrators, program providers, professional development providers, and expanded learning time schools may use this diagram in trainings and in presentations about improving out-of-school programs.Expert Interview
Structuring Extra Learning Opportunities for Students
Megan Beckett, Ph.D.RAND Corporation
Dr. Megan Beckett, chair of the IES panel that authored the Practice Guide on Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement, describes the need for increased learning time programs and initiatives and the five recommendations for program improvement developed by the IES expert panel. (6:16 min)
Expert Interview
Making Each Dollar Go Further
Listen to two experts provide an overview of models of allocating resources to expanded learning time schools. Districts and schools can support these initiatives through creative integration of funding sources and strong staffing decisions. The sample material, Expanded Learning Time Site Coordinator: Two Job Descriptions, outlines the activities involved in redesigning the school day. (6:11 min)