Why We Need It
Of the 10 major cities in the nation, Chicago ranks last in the amount of time students spend in the classroom.
Today, CPS students receive 15% less instructional time than the national average.
Academic studies, education experts, and high-achieving schools with extended time in Chicago and across the nation confirm that additional instructional time is a key factor in student success.
How Schools Use it
The additional 90 minutes per day will benefit students by providing the opportunity to:
- Spend more time on core academic subjects including math, science, social studies.
- Work on literacy skills and provide reading intervention for struggling students.
- Broaden enrichment opportunities including physical education, art, music, library time.
- Give students an adequate mid-day lunch and recess period so that they can recharge.
- Provide students with individualized interventions to help improve skills in math, science and core subjects as well as behavioral interventions and supplemental work for gifted students.
Waiver Process
Before Any Waiver is Discussed: All Longer School Day Pioneer Program waiver votes are conducted in strict accordance with the CPS collective bargaining agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union and applicable state law. The collective bargaining agreement says specifically that "any provision of this Agreement" is subject to the waiver process.
Step 1: Waivers are discussed in a professional, collegial and collaborative process between the
principal and the teachers before any vote is taken.
Step 2: A notice of vote is posted at each school and given to each teacher and staff member.
Step 3: All eligible-to-vote staff is permitted to do so by secret ballot. CPS recommends that the principal call a staff
meeting to present the proposed waiver and answer any questions the staff may have about it before voting begins. The principal and the school delegate should arrange for a ballot box and a sign-in sheet for voters to register. As they sign in, each staff member should receive a ballot and should be directed to a place to vote in private. The staff member should fold the completed ballot and place it in a ballot box.
Step 4: Votes are counted jointly by a CTU representative and the principal at each school, and CPS recommends that
another witness from the staff witness the vote counting as well.
Step 5: Results are verified by a CTU representative and the principal at each school. Both the principal and the delegate
should sign a Waiver Report Sheet, which certifies the number of ballots and the number of votes in favor and against the proposed waiver. The Waiver Report sheet must be mailed to CTU by the School Delegate. The Principal retains the original for the Office of Employee Relations and the School files.
School & Teacher Resources
Participating schools will receive up to $150,000 in discretionary funds which may be used for supporting the Longer School Day.. The amount received is dependent on implementation date. Schools starting in January will receive $75,000 in discretionary funds. Schools could purchase technology, intervention programs, or additional staffing positions for enrichment.
In participating schools, teachers will receive a one-time lump sum payment equivalent to 2% of the average teacher annual salary, which shall be prorated to the number of days the school offers the Longer School Day.