Newark, New Jersey (WABC) – Students in New Jersey’s largest school district are returning to class, and this year, they will be spending more time in the classroom in Newark.
The new schedule will provide all 40,000 students in Newark Public School with additional time for instruction and tutoring.
Newark elementary schools have adjusted their schedules, with classes now commencing at 8:15 a.m. and concluding at 3:05 p.m.
Elementary students who previously started school at 8:25 a.m. and ended at 2:55 p.m. will now have an additional 20 minutes of instructional time.
High school students will have an additional 25 minutes added to their daily school schedule.
Students will benefit from the new schedule, as it offers increased instruction time and an additional 30 hours of tutoring per year.
Students are also provided with a lunch period that is equivalent to a class period.
Parents interviewed by Eyewitness News expressed their support for the initiative, while administrators are optimistic about the potential to enhance test scores.
State math proficiency at Franklin Elementary School increased by 5%, while ELA proficiency rose by 3.7%.
A new agreement between the district and the teachers’ union has led to the implementation of changes. These changes aim to ensure that teachers have a guaranteed 45-minute lunch break and more transition time between periods.
According to reports, the union has previously stated that teachers may have had to forgo their lunch breaks or find a way to fit in a quick snack.
Newark Public Schools have embarked on a transformative journey, now in its fifth year, as part of a 10-year strategy to revitalize the entire school system.
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