Three Baltimore schools have extended their school day by three hours, using
a national program that has boosted achievement in other urban districts and
has been hailed as a way to make American students competitive in the 21st
century.

Hilton Elementary, George Washington Elementary and Harlem Park Elementary/Middle will join a handful of schools in New York and New Orleans implementing the ExpandED Schools program, a public-private initiative of The After-School Corp. that provides schools with additional instructional time via partnerships with community organizations.

The three-year initiative in Baltimore will cost $6.3 million, with 15 percent of the costs shouldered by the city school system. The program began this fall with a smaller population of students in each of the three city schools; all students will be phased in over the next three years. Three hours are added to the end of the school day.

Khaleel Desaque, principal at Hilton Elementary, said the program will give his students a competitive advantage. The school will work with the Child First Authority to execute its program.

Read full article at http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-ci-extended-learning-day-20111230,0,1472750.story