by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

With pressure for kids to achieve better and focus on reading and math, many schools have added hours to the school day to make sure that science, arts and even chess are part of the learning experience.

This extended day movement is gaining momentum particularly in the Washington, DC area with encouragement from two major philanthropists who support education, Bill Gates and Eli Broad.

A recent article in the Washington Post describes those efforts that are not only adding hours, but are adding days. New Mexico and New York also are involved heavily in such programs.

A school day from 8am to 4pm is comparable to the 40 hour week of most jobs. 

In Massachusetts, the longer-day program, begun in 2006, has concentrated on schools with high poverty levels and there are clear gains in reading and math. Senator Ted Kennedy of that state is pushing for federal funding.

While the research is scant, it’s positive and with afternoons so dangerous in large urban cities and achievement so low, the longer day seems a good way to go.