How schools structure time is an important factor in whether students succeed. Research shows that purposefully creating more and better learning time can close equity and achievement gaps. Innovative schools in Colorado have seen remarkable increases in student achievement after expanding the school day to personalize learning, provide deeper interventions, and create learning opportunities beyond classrooms. These changes have been made without altering labor agreements or spending a lot of money. By rethinking how staff time is structured and bringing in community partners, schools with large numbers of English language learners and low-income students have been able to boost achievement and build a closer relationship with families.
The TIME Collaborative is a partnership of the Ford Foundation, the National Center on Time & Learning, The Colorado Education Initiative, and the Colorado Department of Education to help three school districts and 12 schools rethink the role time plays in their learning environments. Each school received technical assistance and targeted coaching as they redesigned their school days. Priority was given to schools with large populations of students living in poverty.