Improving Student Achievement by Extending School: Is It Just a Matter of Time?

By: Julie Aronson, Joy Zimmerman, Lisa Carlos

This report frames the research on the complex relationship between time and learning, focusing primarily on the empirical evidence about how time affects student achievement.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the report reveals that while the amount of time spent in school does matter, how much or little it matters depends on the degree to which it is devoted to appropriate instruction. The report also focuses in on some key factors identified in the research as maximizing the academic effectiveness of existing school time. It concludes by examining the implications of the research findings.