Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced on Thursday a pilot program to extend school hours on weekdays—from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.—and to offer school for six weeks during summer break and all the way through spring and winter break.
The program, geared to children from kindergarten through eighth grade, will be offered at 25 schools starting this school year. Ms. Parker stressed that the program will not be mandatory for teachers or students, and it will not change the school calendar.
It will be available for those who wish to take advantage of the extended time.
“We want to make sure that there are no excuses. That our children in the Philadelphia School District, regardless of their socioeconomic status and or zip code, that they get access the high quality enrichment programs that are not traditionally offered during the school day,” Ms. Parker said.
She said the extra time will be used for enrichment programs that look different from traditional school. Those activities will be determined by the interests of the students, but some activities may include sports, the arts, learning how to play chess, financial literacy, learning how to code, or tutoring opportunities.
The program could boost student academic outcomes and reduce delinquent behavior, according to the mayor, but that is not the only reason Philadelphia is piloting the program—it will also help working parents.
Parents can drop their children off before the school day begins, including during the spring and winter breaks. This program, Ms. Parker said, is well suited for children who don’t go on family trips over summer or don’t have a lot of plans outside school.
The program is a partnership between the City of Philadelphia and the School District of Philadelphia and is jointly funded. Current out-of-school time programs will continue as normal.
Before becoming mayor, Ms. Parker held several other elected positions in her career, including Philadelphia city counselor and Pennsylvania State House representative. Early in her career she worked briefly as a high school English teacher in New Jersey and has often promoted education-related programs.
