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 Department of 
 
 Education 
 
 GOVERN r .:ENT DOCUMENTS 
 COLLECTION 
 
 APR 19 1 
 
 University of Massachus 
 Depository Copy 
 
 TIME AND LEARNING 
 
 Results of Self-Reported 
 Survey For Principals 
 
 1997-1998 School Year 
 
 : >:?;-ii; : -." 
 
 Massachusetts Department of Education 
 
 Address: 350 Main Street, Maiden, MA 02148 
 
 Telephone: (781) 388-3300 Internet: www.doe.mass.edu 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 Department of Education 
 
 350 Main Street, Maiden, Massachusetts 02148-5023 
 
 David P. Driscoll 
 immissioner of Education (Interim) 
 
 (781)388-3300 
 (78 1) 388-3392 Fax 
 
 November 1998 
 
 Dear Friends: 
 
 The Department of Education is pleased to provide this report on the actions taken by all schools 
 to meet the responsibilities of the student learning time regulations adopted by the Board of 
 Education on December 20, 1994. The purpose of the student learning time regulations is to 
 ensure that every public school in the Commonwealth provides its students with the structured 
 learning time needed to enable each student to achieve competency in core subjects. The 
 regulations gave districts a period of three years to reach full implementation for the 1997-1998 
 school year. 
 
 In October 1997, principals were asked to complete a survey to report on the restructuring of the 
 school schedules that occurred to meet the new time standards. This report contains statewide 
 averages of time spent in different subjects at different grade levels as reported by the principals. 
 While this report points out a few schools reporting non-compliance, many of those schools have 
 since met the requirements for the current school year 1998-1999. 
 
 Some of the major findings: 
 
 • elementary school students on average spend more than 800 hours a year on core academic 
 subjects; 
 
 • except for vocational schools, more time is spent in English language arts than in any other 
 subject; and 
 
 • over 200 schools have a student year in excess of the state required minimum of 180 days. 
 
 The student learning time regulations are only one of numerous reform initiatives in the 
 Commonwealth to improve learning opportunities for all students. 
 
 I hope you find this information helpful. 
 
 tvid P. Driscoll 
 Commissioner of Education 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2013 
 
 http://archive.org/details/timelearningresuOOmass 
 
Time and Learning 
 
 Results of Self-Reported Survey for Principals 
 
 1997-1998 School Year 
 
 In December 1994, after over a year of review, five public hearings, and over two thousand 
 comments sent to the Department, the Board of Education adopted the Student Learning Time 
 Regulations. These regulations establish a minimum standard for the amount of "structured 
 learning time" that school districts must provide to students each year: 425 hours/year 
 kindergarten, 900 hours/year elementary, 990 hours/year secondary. 
 
 The purpose of the regulations is to ensure that every public school in Massachusetts provides its 
 students with the structured learning time needed to enable each student to achieve competency in 
 core subjects. 
 
 Regulation 603 CMR 27.04: "Structured Learning Time Requirements" states: 
 
 (1 ) No later than the 1997-1998 school year, schools shall ensure that every elementary school student is 
 scheduled to receive a minimum of 900 hours per school year of structured learning time, as defined in 603 
 CMR 27.02. Time which a student spends at school breakfast and lunch, passing between classes, in 
 homeroom, at recess, in non-directed study periods, receiving school services, and participating in optional 
 school programs shall not count toward meeting the minimum structured learning time requirement for that 
 student. 
 
 (2) No later than the 1997-1998 school year, all schools shall ensure that every secondary school student is 
 scheduled to receive a minimum of 990 hours per school year of structured learning time, as defined in 603 
 CMR 27.02. Time which a student spends at school breakfast and lunch, passing between classes, in 
 homeroom, at recess, in non-directed study periods, receiving school services, and participating in optional 
 school programs shall not count toward meeting the minimum structured learning time requirement for that 
 student. 
 
 In April 1998, the Board of Education amended the Student Learning Time Regulations to clarify 
 the definition in 603 CMR 27.02, as follows: 
 
 Core subjects shall mean the core academic subjects specified in G.L. c.69, section ID (mathematics, 
 science and technology, history and social science, English, foreign languages and the arts), and the subjects 
 covered in courses which are part of an approved vocational-technical education program under M.G.L.c.74. 
 
 Other subjects shall mean subjects other than core academic subjects that are required to be taught pursuant 
 to G.L.c.71 , sections 1 and 3, and other subjects approved by the school committee as part of the district's 
 program of studies. 
 
 Both "core subjects" and "other subjects" count toward the calculation of structured learning time 
 for students. 
 
As part of the annual October Report in which schools report on fiscal and programmatic matters, 
 the Department of Education included a Time and Learning survey (Attachment A) for all 
 superintendents and principals to report the status of their district or school with regard to time 
 and learning for the 1997-1998 school year. A summary of the results of the Superintendents' 
 survey was given to the Board of Education in January 1998 (Attachment B). The findings in this 
 report represent the responses from the principals of 1,776 elementary and secondary schools. 
 Survey instructions asked school principals to provide information based on the majority of 
 students enrolled and to report on a "typical day and year" in the school/district. In all 
 comparisons between elementary and secondary schools, middle/junior high schools are included 
 in the group that the school committee designated for time and learning requirements (i.e., 900 
 annual structured learning hours for elementary or 990 annual structured learning hours for 
 secondary). Throughout this report, "n" indicates the number of schools responding to the 
 particular question. 
 
FINDINGS 
 
 Findings are presented in the following categories: 
 
 Annual Structured Learning Time (Hours) 
 
 Annual Student Days 
 
 Time in Content Areas 
 
 Length of Student Day 
 
 Non-Instructional Time 
 
 Meeting the Standards for Student Learning Time 
 
 Early Release 
 
 Summary and Conclusions 
 
ANNUAL STRUCTURED LEARNING TIME 
 
 According to the student learning time regulations, "No later than the 1997-1998 school year, 
 schools shall ensure that every elementary school student is scheduled to receive a minimum 
 of 900 hours per school year and every secondary school student is scheduled to receive a 
 minimum of 990 hours per year of structured learning time, as defined in 603 CMR 27.02. 
 Time which a student spends at school breakfast and lunch, passing between classes, in 
 homeroom, at recess, in non-directed study periods, receiving school services, and 
 participating in optional school programs shall not count toward meeting the minimum 
 structured learning time requirement for that student." 
 
 Major Findings 
 
 Seventy-four elementary schools reported more than 1,000 hours of annual structured 
 learning time and eight reported more than 1,100 hours. The average for the 1,274 
 reporting elementary schools was 935.5 hours. 
 
 Eight secondary schools reported more than 1,090 hours of annual structured learning time. 
 The average for the 416 reporting secondary schools was 1,015.1 hours. 
 
 Twenty-two elementary schools (4 districts) reported fewer than the required 900 hours of 
 annual structured learning time. 
 
 Twenty-seven secondary schools (16 districts) reported fewer than the required 990 hours 
 of annual structured learning time. 
 
 ANNUAL STRUCTURED LEARNING TIME 
 
 
 LOWEST 
 
 REPORTED 
 
 HOURS 
 
 HIGHEST 
 
 REPORTED 
 
 HOURS 
 
 AVERAGE 
 
 REPORTED 
 
 HOURS 
 
 ELEMENTARY 
 (n= 1,274) 
 
 815 
 
 1,237.5 
 
 935.5 
 
 SECONDARY 
 (n=416) 
 
 791 
 
 1,755 
 
 1,015.1 
 
ANNUAL STUDENT DAYS 
 
 603 CMR 27.03 (3) states, "Every school committee shall operate the schools within its district at 
 least 180 school days in a school year." 
 
 Major Findings 
 
 • Annual student days over the required 180 were reported by 155 (11 .5%) elementary 
 schools and 52 (12.2%) secondary schools. 
 
 • Six schools (one elementary and five secondary) reported fewer than the required 180 
 annual student days. Except for Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science (161 student 
 days), the rest reported 179 because of an orientation day where only a portion of students 
 were scheduled to attend. 
 
 ANNUAL 
 STUDENT DAYS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 
 (n= 1,341) 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
 (n = 427) 
 
 Fewer than 1 80 Days 
 
 .1% 
 
 1 .4% 
 
 1 80 Days 
 
 88.0% 
 
 86.4% 
 
 181 - 185 Days 
 
 1 1 .2% 
 
 1 1 .0% 
 
 More than 185 Days 
 
 .3% 
 
 1 .2% 
 
 RANGE 
 
 1 79 - 1 95 Days 
 
 161 -210 Days 
 
TIME IN CONTENT AREAS 
 
 Statewide averages in instructional time vary from grade level to grade level. Detailed 
 information on instructional time in specific content areas is displayed on pages 8 and 9. For the 
 findings on page 7, "core content areas" include English language arts, history and social science, 
 math, science and technology, foreign languages, and the arts. Approved vocational-technical 
 education programs under G.L. c. 74 are also counted as core content in vocational/technical 
 schools. 
 
 Major Findings 
 
 • Elementary grades spend approximately 85% of the total student day in "core subjects" and 
 "other subjects." Time spent on the core subjects ranges from 78% (861 hours) for Grade 2 
 to 73% (817 hours) for Grade 8-Elementary 1 . 
 
 • Secondary (academic) grades spend approximately 87% of the total student day in "core 
 subjects" and "other subjects." Time spent on core subjects ranges from 73% (843 hours) 
 for Grade 6-Secondary 1 to 59% (690 hours) for Grade 12. 
 
 • Vocational/Technical schools spend 89% of the total student day on "core" and "other" 
 subjects. Eighty-two percent (960 hours) of the student year is spent on "core subjects" 
 (including vocational/technical training) for Grade 10 and 83% (971 hours) for Grade 12. 
 
 • As can be seen in the graph on page 7, the total amount of time spent in the core content 
 areas declines each year for elementary grades 2 through 8, and the same is true for 
 secondary grades 6 through 12. 
 
 'Districts that operate separate middle schools have the option of designating those schools as elementary or secondary. 
 

 
 
 
 
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CONTENT AREA 
 
 GRADE 2 (n = 1078) 
 
 GRADE 4 (n=1042) 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 STUDENT YEAR 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 STUDENT YEAR 
 
 English Language Arts 
 
 Math 
 
 Science and Technology 
 
 435 
 177 
 95 
 
 
 374 
 180 
 121 
 
 
 History and Social Science 
 
 Arts 
 
 Foreign Languages 
 
 89 
 
 60 
 
 6 
 
 
 118 
 59 
 
 7 
 
 
 HOURS IN CORE AREAS 
 
 861 
 
 0,78; 
 
 
 
 860 
 
 0,78 
 
 Physical Education 
 
 Other 
 
 Vocational/Technical 
 
 41 
 
 26 
 
 1 
 
 
 42 
 
 28 
 
 1 
 
 
 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS 
 
 930 
 
 0.85 
 
 931 
 
 0.85 
 
 Non-Instructional Time 
 
 168 
 
 
 167 
 
 
 TOTAL HOURS IN STUDENTYEAR 
 
 1,098 
 
 1;0G 
 
 1#98 1: 
 
 1.00 
 
 CONTENT AREA 
 
 GRADE 6 ELEMENTARY 
 (n= 515) 
 
 GRADE 8 ELEMENTARY ; 
 <n= 216) 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 STUDENTYEAR 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 STUDENTYEAR 
 
 English Language Arts 
 
 Math 
 
 Science and Technology 
 
 312 
 170 
 141 
 
 
 206 
 150 
 154 
 
 
 History and Social Science 
 
 Arts 
 
 Foreign Lanquages 
 
 138 
 
 67 
 
 16 
 
 
 145 
 71 
 91 
 
 
 HOURS IN CORE AREAS 
 
 845 
 
 0.76 
 
 817 
 
 0.73 
 
 Physical Education 
 
 Other 
 
 Vocational/Technical 
 
 49 
 
 46 
 
 9 
 
 
 57 
 77 
 22 
 
 
 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS 
 
 949 
 
 0.85 
 
 973 
 
 0,86 
 
 Non-Instructional Time 
 
 171 
 
 
 154 
 
 
 TOTAL HOURS IN STUDENT YEAR 
 
 1,119 
 
 1,00 
 
 1,127 
 
 1,00 
 
 CONTENT AREA 
 
 GRADE 6 
 
 (n 1 
 
 SECONDARY 
 98) 
 
 GRADE 8 
 
 SECONDARY 
 1B4) 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 STUDENTYEAR 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 STUDENTYEAR 
 
 English Language Arts 
 Science and Technology 
 Math 
 
 251 
 159 
 153 
 
 
 195 
 153 
 149 
 
 
 History and Social Science 
 
 Arts 
 
 Foreign Languages 
 
 151 
 85 
 42 
 
 
 147 
 
 78 
 
 93 
 
 
 HOURS IN CORE AREAS 
 
 HUH 
 
 0;73 
 
 815 
 
 0.70 
 
 Other 
 
 Physical Education 
 
 Vocational/Technical 
 
 75 
 58 
 32 
 
 
 91 
 63 
 45 
 
 
 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS 
 
 1,007 
 
 0.87 
 
 1,013 
 
 0.88 
 
 Non-Instructional Time 
 
 147 
 
 
 144 
 
 
 TOTAL HOURS IN STUDENT YEAR 
 
 1,153 
 
 1.00 
 
 1,157 
 
 1.00 
 
 8 
 
CONTENTAREA^ : 
 
 GRADE 10 ACADEMIC 
 (n- 301) 
 
 GRADE 12 ACADEMIC 
 (ft =302) 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENTOF 
 STUDENT YEAR 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENTOF 
 STUDENT YEAR 
 
 English Language Arts 
 Science and Technology 
 Math 
 
 149 
 148 
 141 
 
 
 155 
 138 
 128 
 
 
 History and Social Science 
 Foreign Languages 
 Arts * 
 
 127 
 103 
 67 
 
 
 130 
 
 63 
 
 75 
 
 
 HOURS IN GORE AREAS 
 
 735 • ..- : .:.-:, 
 
 M:k\iMm.63m&- 
 
 - i\mm m 
 
 0.59 
 
 Vocational/Technical 
 
 Other 
 
 Physical Education 
 
 122 
 
 89 
 
 70 
 
 
 144 
 127 
 54 
 
 
 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS 
 
 nim^n 
 
 m-^mmm^m 
 
 1,015 
 
 mmkwm^tm* 
 
 Non-Instructional Time 
 
 152 
 
 
 146 
 
 
 TOTAL HOURS IN STUDENT: YEAR 
 
 1,1BrV' . 
 
 nm 
 
 w^M^mh 
 
 iiiii 
 
 CONTENTAREA 
 
 GRADE 10 
 (n = 
 
 VOCATIONAL 
 29) 
 
 GRADE 12 
 
 VOCATIONAL 
 29) 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 STUDENT YEAR 
 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS 
 
 PERCENTOF 
 STUDENT YEAR 
 
 Vocational/Technical 
 English Language Arts 
 Math 
 
 551 
 125 
 107 
 
 
 567 
 125 
 91 
 
 
 Science and Technology 
 History and Social Science 
 Foreign Languages 
 Arts 
 
 HOURSJN CORE AREAS 
 
 86 
 
 72 
 
 14 
 
 5 
 
 :..':• 960 
 
 
 90 
 
 73 
 
 14 
 
 I 11 
 
 971 
 
 
 ■^0^2Mrm^ 
 
 0,83 
 
 Physical Education 
 Other 
 
 50 
 32 
 
 
 33 
 34 
 
 
 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS 
 
 1>G42 
 
 mmM$$w®MSm 
 
 m&ammm 
 
 mmm^i^: 
 
 Non-Instructional Time 
 
 127 
 
 
 126 
 
 
 TOTAL HOURS IN STUDENT YEAR 
 
 ii$m 
 
 ItfQ 
 
 1,164 
 
 1i00 
 
 A detailed chart regarding annual hours of foreign language instruction can be found on page 10. 
 
The statewide average of hours spent on foreign languages includes schools that 
 have minimal or no foreign languages program. The table below shows the 
 statewide average hours by grade, the number of schools reporting NO hours in 
 foreign languages, the number of schools reporting SOME hours in foreign 
 languages, and the average hours for schools that have any number of hours in 
 foreign languages (excludes schools that have no foreign language hours). 
 
 GRADE 
 
 STATEWIDE 
 AVERAGE 
 HOURS (ALL 
 SCHOOLS) 
 
 NUMBER OF 
 SCHOOLS WITH 
 NO REPORTED 
 HOURS IN 
 FOREIGN 
 LANGUAGES 
 
 SCHOOLS REPORTING SOME 
 FOREIGN LANGUAGE HOURS 
 
 NUMBER OF 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 AVERAGE HOURS OF 
 
 FOREIGN 
 
 LANGUAGES 
 
 Grade 2 -Elementary 
 
 6 
 
 1,204 
 
 142 
 
 47. 7 Hours 
 
 Grade 4 -Elementary 
 
 7 
 
 1,189 
 
 157 
 
 46.2 Hours 
 
 Grade 6-Elementary 
 
 16 
 
 324 
 
 135 
 
 62.7 Hours 
 
 Grade 8- Elementary 
 
 91 
 
 25 
 
 191 
 
 105.7 Hours 
 
 Grade 6-Secondary 
 
 42 
 
 37 
 
 61 
 
 68. 1 Hours 
 
 Grade 8-Secondary 
 
 93 
 
 17 
 
 167 
 
 102.5 Hours 
 
 Grade 10- Academic 
 
 113 
 
 28 
 
 273 
 
 116.8 Hours 
 
 Grade 12-Academic 
 
 69 
 
 33 
 
 269 
 
 72. 1 Hours 
 
 Grade 10-Vocational 
 
 14 
 
 20 
 
 9 
 
 45.3 Hours 
 
 Grade 12-Vocational 
 
 14 
 
 18 
 
 11 
 
 35.8 Hours 
 
 10 
 
LENGTH OF STUDENT DA Y 
 
 The average length of the student day is 6.2 hours for elementary schools and 6.5 hours for 
 secondary schools. 
 
 The majority of elementary schools (82.1%) have a student day that lasts between 6 and 6.5 hours. 
 The majority of secondary schools (56.3%) have a student day that lasts between 6.5 and 7 hours. 
 
 HOURS IN 
 AVERAGE 
 SCHOOL DAY 
 
 ELEMENTARY 
 SCHOOLS 
 (n= 1,345) 
 
 SECONDARY 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 (n = 429) 
 
 Fewer than 6 Hours 
 
 3.3% 
 
 0% 
 
 6 to < 6.5 Hours 
 
 82.1% 
 
 40.1% 
 
 6.5 to < 7 Hours 
 
 13.6% 
 
 56.3% 
 
 7 Hours or More 
 
 1.0% 
 
 3.5% 
 
 RANGE OF HOURS 
 
 5.75 - 8 
 
 6-9.5 
 
 AVERAGE HOURS 
 
 6.2 
 
 6.5 
 
 • The majority of elementary schools (58.6%) have 5 to <5.25 hours of structured learning time a 
 day 2 . 
 
 • The majority of secondary schools (86%) have 5.5 to <6 hours of structured learning time a day 2 . 
 
 The tables on the next page identify the number of schools in each Structured Learning Time group (i.e., 
 4.5 to <5 hours of structured learning time) by the total number of student hours in the day. For example, 
 44 elementary schools (see shaded areas of table on the following page) with fewer than 6 total student 
 hours in the day have 5 to <5.25 hours of structured learning time a day, and 48 elementary schools 
 with 6.5 to <7 total student hours in the day have the same amount (5 to <5.25 hours) of structured 
 learning time a day. 
 
 "Structured learning time is time during which students are engaged in regularly scheduled instruction, learning 
 activities, or learning assessments within the curriculum for study of the "core subjects" and "other subjects." In addition to 
 classroom time where both teachers and students are present, structured learning time may include directed study, independent 
 study, technology-assisted learning, presentations by persons other than teachers, school-to-career programs, and statewide 
 student performance assessments. 
 
 11 
 

 NUMBER OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN EACH CATEGORY OF 
 STRUCTURED LEARNING TIME 
 
 (n= 1,344) 
 
 TOTAL HOURS IN 
 AVERAGE 
 STUDENT DAY 
 
 4.5 to <5 
 HOURS 
 
 5 to <5.25 
 HOURS 
 
 5.25 to <5.5 
 HOURS 
 
 5.5 to <6 
 HOURS 
 
 6 HOURS 
 OR MORE 
 
 TOTAL 
 
 SCHOOLS IN 
 
 CATEGORY 
 
 Fewer than 6 Hours 
 
 
 44 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 45 
 
 6 to < 6.5 Hours 
 
 21 
 
 696 
 
 309 
 
 76 
 
 1 
 
 1,103 
 
 6.5 to <7 Hours 
 
 
 48 
 
 64 
 
 69 
 
 2 
 
 183 
 
 7 Hours or More 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 TOTAL SCHOOLS 
 IN CATEGORY 
 
 21 
 
 788 
 
 376 
 
 147 
 
 12 
 
 1,344 
 
 
 NUMBER OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EACH CATEGORY OF 
 STRUCTURED LEARNING TIME (n = 429) 
 
 TOTAL HOURS IN 
 AVERAGE 
 STUDENT DAY 
 
 4.5 to <5 
 HOURS 
 
 5 to <5.25 
 HOURS 
 
 5.25 to <5.5 
 HOURS 
 
 5.5 to <6 
 HOURS 
 
 6 HOURS 
 OR MORE 
 
 TOTAL 
 
 SCHOOLS IN 
 
 CATEGORY 
 
 Fewer than 6 Hours 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 to <6.5 Hours 
 
 
 2 
 
 24 
 
 146 
 
 
 172 
 
 6.5 to <7 Hours 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 219 
 
 10 
 
 242 
 
 7 Hours or More 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 15 
 
 TOTAL SCHOOLS 
 IN CATEGORY 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 25 
 
 369 
 
 21 
 
 429 
 
 12 
 
NON-INSTRUCTIONAL TIME 
 
 On average, 55 minutes of the student day was used for non-instructional activities (lunch, 
 recess, moving between classes). Elementary schools reported an average of 56 minutes and 
 secondary schools reported an average of 50 minutes of non-instructional time in the student 
 day. 
 
 DAILY HOURS OF NON- 
 INSTRUCTIONAL TIME (LUNCH, 
 RECESS, MOVING BETWEEN CLASSES, 
 ETC.) 
 
 ELEMENTARY 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 (n= 1,344) 
 
 SECONDARY 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 (n = 429) 
 
 Less than .5 Hour 
 
 .4% 
 
 1.2% 
 
 .5 to <1 Hour 
 
 57.3% 
 
 86.01% 
 
 1 to < 1.5 Hours 
 
 41.1% 
 
 11.4% 
 
 1 .5 Hours or More 
 
 1.2% 
 
 1.4% 
 
 RANGE OF MINUTES 
 
 15-95 minutes 
 
 0-119* 
 
 AVERAGE DAILY MINUTES 
 
 56 
 
 50 
 
 * Two secondary schools reported NO time in this category. All others reported 27 minutes or more. 
 Six secondary schools reported over 1.5 hours in this category. 
 
 13 
 
MEETING THE STANDARD FOR STUDENT LEARNING TIME 
 
 The most common changes in non-instructional time made by elementary schools to comply 
 with the full 1997 implementation of the Student Learning Time Regulations included 
 reducing or eliminating early release days (44.7% of schools) and reducing or eliminating 
 recess (33% of schools). 
 
 The most common changes in non-instructional time made by secondary schools to comply 
 with the full 1997 implementation of the Student Learning Time Regulations included 
 reducing or eliminating non-directed study (64.4% of schools) and reducing or eliminating 
 homeroom (57.9% of schools). 
 
 SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENT 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 
 ELEMENTARY 
 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 MAKING CHANGE 
 
 (n= 1,346) 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 
 SECONDARY 
 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 MAKING CHANGE 
 
 (n = 430) 
 
 Reduced Early Release Days 
 
 34.4% 
 
 35.8% 
 
 Reduced Recess 
 
 28.8% 
 
 2.1% 
 
 Reduced Passing Time 
 
 18.6% 
 
 45.6% 
 
 Reduced Homeroom 
 
 13.7% 
 
 29.1% 
 
 Eliminated Early Release Days 
 
 10.3% 
 
 14.4% 
 
 Reduced Lunch Time 
 
 6.8% 
 
 12.6% 
 
 Eliminated Non-Directed Study 
 
 5.9% 
 
 51.6% 
 
 Reduced Non-Directed Study 
 
 5.1% 
 
 12.8% 
 
 Eliminated Recess 
 
 4.2% 
 
 1.9% 
 
 Eliminated Orientation Day(s) 
 
 3.0% 
 
 27.0% 
 
 Eliminated Homeroom 
 
 2.7% 
 
 28.8% 
 
 Other * 
 
 3.9% 
 
 14.7% 
 
 * Examples include the elimination or reduction of activity/club periods; reduction of the number of classes per 
 day; and going to full day professional development days. 
 
 14 
 
Ninety-one elementary schools (6.8%) added student days to the year to comply with the 
 Student Learning Time Regulations. The average number of days added by these 91 schools 
 was 2.2 days. No elementary schools added more than 5 days. 
 
 Thirty-five secondary schools (8.1%) added student days to the year to comply with the 
 Student Learning Time Regulations. The average number of days added by these 35 schools 
 was 3.1 days. One secondary school reported adding 13 days and another reported adding 30 
 days. 
 
 Almost half of all schools added time to the student day, days to the student year, or both time 
 and days. 
 
 CHANGES TO 
 STUDENT HOURS AND/OR DAYS 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 
 (n= 1,346) 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
 
 (n = 430) 
 
 No Changes in Hours or Days 
 
 50.9% 
 
 47.4% 
 
 Added Minutes to Student Day 
 
 44.7% 
 
 48.6% 
 
 Added Days to Student Year 
 
 6.8% 
 
 8.1% 
 
 Added BOTH Hours and Minutes 
 
 4.7% 
 
 5.8% 
 
 Of 1,776 schools reporting, 810 added time (minutes to day) to comply with the regulations. 
 
 Of 1,346 elementary schools reporting, 601 (44.7%) added minutes to the student day. On 
 average, 14 minutes were added to the elementary school day. 
 
 Of 430 secondary schools reporting, 209 (48.6%) added minutes to the student day. On 
 average, 16 minutes were added to the secondary school day. 
 
 MINUTES ADDED TO 
 THE STUDENT DAY 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 
 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 
 
 THAT ADDED TIME TO 
 
 THE DAY 
 
 (n = 601) 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 
 SECONDARY 
 
 SCHOOLS THAT ADDED 
 
 TIME TO THE DAY 
 
 (n = 209) 
 
 1-10 Minutes 
 
 51.4% 
 
 34.0% 
 
 1 1 - 20 Minutes 
 
 37.8% 
 
 47.4% 
 
 21 -30 Minutes 
 
 5.5% 
 
 12.9% 
 
 31 -60 Minutes 
 
 5.3% 
 
 4.8% 
 
 More than 60 Minutes 
 
 0% 
 
 1.0% 
 
 15 
 
EARLY RELEASE 
 
 On average, schools had "early release" (for professional development, parent conferences, 
 and/or pre-holiday time) on 7.83 days a year (8.20 days for elementary and 6.63 days for 
 secondary). 
 
 Of 1 ,201 elementary schools responding, 459 (38.2%) had 3 or fewer annual early release days 
 (range 0-42). 
 
 Of 367 secondary schools reporting, 160 (43.6%) had 3 or fewer annual early release days 
 (range 0-44) 
 
 Of the 1 ,552 schools that reported greater than "zero" annual early release time, the average 
 was 18.9 hours (20 hours for elementary and 15.3 hours for secondary). 
 
 43.3% (514) of the 1 189 elementary schools and 46.6% (169) of secondary schools had 
 between 1 and 10 annual hours of early release time. 
 
 Eighty-nine elementary schools and 10 secondary schools reported more than 50 annual hours 
 of early release time. The highest number of annual early release hours was 123.3 for 
 elementary schools and 99.0 for secondary schools. 
 
 ANNUAL HOURS OF 
 EARLY RELEASE 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 
 
 (n= 1,189) 
 
 PERCENT OF 
 SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
 
 (n = 363) 
 
 1 - 10 
 
 43.3% 
 
 46.6% 
 
 11-25 
 
 35.4% 
 
 38.3% 
 
 26-50 
 
 13.8% 
 
 12.4% 
 
 5 1 or more 
 
 7.5% 
 
 2.8% 
 
 RANGE OF HOURS 
 
 1 - 123.3 
 
 1 - 99.0 
 
 AVERAGE HOURS 
 
 18.8 Hours 
 
 15.3 Hours 
 
 16 
 
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 
 
 Nearly all schools reported being in compliance with the Student Learning Time Regulations for both 
 annual hours and annual days. Only 19 districts reported at least one school out of compliance. The 
 total number of elementary schools not in compliance was 22, and there were 27 secondary schools 
 not in compliance. Of the 15 middle schools not in compliance, all have more than 900 annual hours 
 of structured learning time, but they self-designated as secondary schools which require 990 annual 
 hours of structured learning time. 
 
 The percentage of time spent on core academic subjects (mathematics, science and technology, history 
 and social science, English, foreign languages, and the arts) and in subjects covered in courses which 
 are part of an approved vocational-technical education program under M.G.L.c.74 was: 
 
 Grade 2 Elementary - 78% (861 hours) 
 Grade 4 Elementary - 78% (860 hours) 
 Grade 6 Elementary - 76% (845 hours) 
 Grade 8 Elementary - 73% (817 hours) 
 Grade 6 Secondary - 73% (843 hours) 
 Grade 8 Secondary - 70% (815 hours) 
 Grade 10 Academic - 63% (735 hours) 
 Grade 12 Academic - 59% (690 hours) 
 Grade 10 Vocational - 82% (960 hours) 
 Grade 12 Vocational - 83% (971 hours) 
 
 Both Grade 12 academic and vocational percentages reflect annual structured learning time for a full 
 1 80 day student school year, so the percentages are actually less due to senior early release. High 
 schools are permitted to release seniors up to 12 days prior to the end of the regularly scheduled 
 closing day. All but 7 high schools comply with the regulation (Attachment B). 
 
 At all grade levels (except 10 and 12 vocational), schools reported spending more time in English 
 language arts than in any other core academic subject. Of the 10 grade levels surveyed, 5 provide 
 fewer than 20 annual hours of foreign language instruction (grades 2, 4, 6 elementary and grades 10, 
 12 vocational). Three grade levels reported more than 70 annual hours of foreign language instruction 
 (Grades 8 elementary and secondary and Grade 10 academic). The annual number of hours for 
 science and technology instruction peaks at Grade 8 for elementary schools (154 hours). The annual 
 number of hours for science and technology instruction peaks at Grade 6 for secondary schools (159 
 hours), and then declines. For all grade levels, math instructional hours peak at Grade 4 (180 hours) 
 and then decline for the upper grade levels. 
 
 17 
 
ATTACHMENT A 
 
 18 
 

 
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 Department of 
 Education 
 
 Time and Learning 
 
 Report: 
 Principals 
 
 Questions concerning this report should be referred to: 
 
 THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
 
 Professional Development Coordination 
 
 (781) 388-3300 x457 or x216 
 
 October 1, 1997 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 Department of Education 
 
 350 Main Street, Maiden, Massachusetts 02148-5023 Telephone: (781) 388-3300 
 
 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370 
 
 TIME AND LEARNING REPORT - FALL 1997 
 
 The purposes of this report are to find out how much structured learning time most of your 
 students receive during the typical day and year in your district/school, and to determine any 
 changes your schools have made to the day and year since the Education Reform Act of 1993. 
 The Department realizes that there may be special circumstances and exceptions with regard to 
 scheduling students, so we are asking that you answer the following questions based on the 
 majority of the students enrolled. 
 
 Information collected in this report will be compiled by the Massachusetts Department of 
 Education this fall for statewide analysis and reporting. 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS TO PRINCIPALS 
 
 ■ Throughout the report, please record times in hours and minutes (e.g., 6 hours and 23 
 minutes) where necessary. 
 
 ■ Please complete the form at the bottom of this page and the report on the following page. 
 
 ■ If you have questions about this report, please call Professional Development 
 Coordination at (781) 388-3300 x457 or x216. 
 
 ■ Please return this form and the report on the following page to your Superintendent no 
 later than October 10, 1997. 
 
 District Name ta District Code. 
 
 School Name_ School Code 
 
 Circle Each Grade in this School: PreK K123456789 10 11 12 
 
 Principal's Name (please print) Principal's Signature 
 
 Principal's Phone Number ( ) 
 
 Date Submitted to Superintendent / / 
 
District Code School Code 
 
 TIME AND LEARNING REPORT - FALL 1997 
 PRINCIPALS ONLY 
 
 1. Of the number of student days scheduled in the student year (minimum 180), how many are 
 
 early release days (e.g., day before holiday, professional development, parent conferences)? days 
 
 2. How many total annual hours are students not in school because of the early release 
 
 days indicated in number 1? hrs mins 
 
 3. The student day begins at A.M. and ends at P.M.; 
 
 therefore the student day contains hrs mins 
 
 4. How much time is spent per day in homeroom, at breakfast and lunch, passing 
 
 between classes, at recess, and in non-directed study? hrs mins 
 
 5. Subtract the amount of daily non-instructional time in number 4 from the total time 
 
 indicated in number 3. This gives the daily structured learning time per student hrs mins 
 
 6. How many days in your school year are ALL students scheduled to attend? 
 
 ► Do not include kindergarten days 
 
 ► Do not include orientation days unless all grades are in attendance 
 *• Do not subtract senior early release days 
 
 7. Multiply the daily structured learning time indicated in number 5 by the number of 
 student days in number 6. This equals hrs mins. 
 
 8. From the total in number 7, subtract the time not scheduled because of early release 
 
 indicated in number 2. This gives the amount of annual structured learning time. hrs mins 
 
 9. Since the adoption of The Student Learning Time Regulations in December 1994, 
 
 did your school need to add time to be in compliance for 1997-1998? Yes No 
 
 10. If you answered "Yes" to number 9, how many annual hours were needed? hrs 
 
 1 1. If your school has made changes since the adoption of the Student Learning Time Regulations, what have you 
 done? (Check all that apply.) 
 
 a. Reduce passing time 
 
 b. Reduce lunch 
 
 lc Reduce early release days 
 
 d. Eliminate early release days 
 
 e. Reduce homeroom 
 
 f. Eliminate homeroom 
 
 g. Reduce recess 
 
 _h. Eliminate recess 
 
 _I. Reduce non-directed study 
 
 j. Eliminate non-directed study 
 
 _k. Eliminate orientation day(s) 
 
 J. Add student time to beginning/end of day 
 
 1) How many student minutes were added to the day? mins 
 
 _m. Add student days to the year 
 
 1 ) How many student days were added to the year? days 
 
 _n. Other - Briefly explain. 
 
 12. If your school is currently utilizing a form of extended block scheduling, what type(s) of scheduling are you using? 
 Vocational /Technical schools should answer this question for their academic days/weeks. (Check all that apply.) 
 
 a. 4x4 semester courses 
 
 b. Alternating day 
 
 c. Rotating extended single block 
 
 d. Team teaching 
 
 e. Thematic units 
 
 f. Other - Briefly explSun 
 
 Report continues on reverse side 
 
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ATTACHMENT B 
 
 19 
 
TIME & LEARNING REPORT: 
 RESULTS FROM SUPERINTENDENTS SURVEY 
 
 Districts included in this report — 339 
 
 1. 
 
 How many total days are scheduled for your school year including days set aside for 
 professional development and snow days? 
 
 Total School Days Including Professional 
 Development and Snow Days Scheduled 
 
 Number of Reporting School Districts 
 
 Fewer than 180 Days 
 
 1* 
 
 180- 184 Days 
 
 23 
 
 185 Days 
 
 97 
 
 186- 190 Days 
 
 199 
 
 More than 190 Days 
 
 19 
 
 Missing 
 
 17 
 
 Total 
 
 356 
 
 * MA Academy /Math & Science reported 169 total days in line with the schedule of Worcester 
 
 Polytechnic Institute 
 
 2. How many total days in your school year are ALL students scheduled to attend? Do 
 not include kindergarten. Do not include orientation days unless all grades are in 
 attendance. Do not subtract senior early release days. 
 
 Total School Days AH Students Scheduled 
 
 Number of Reporting School Districts 
 
 Fewer than 180 Days 
 
 2* 
 
 180 Days 
 
 290 
 
 181 - 185 Days 
 
 41 
 
 186- 190 Days 
 
 2 
 
 More ihan 190 Days 
 
 4 
 
 Missing 
 
 17 
 
 Total 
 
 356 
 
 'MA Academy/Math & Science reported 161 days. 
 
 Stoughton reported 179 days and has already corrected it for next year. 
 
3. How many days before the end of the regularly scheduled school year are seniors 
 
 released? 
 
 Number of Days Released 
 
 Number of Reporting School Districts 
 
 ZERO Days 
 
 2 
 
 1 -5 Days 
 
 38 
 
 6-11 Days 
 
 117 
 
 12 Days 
 
 88 
 
 More than 1 2 Days 
 
 7* 
 
 Blank 
 
 j** 
 
 No High School 
 
 85 
 
 Total 
 
 339 
 
 * Seniors released 13 days early: Grafton (183 student days); Easton; Mansfield (Grad. Location problem - will be 
 corrected for future). Seniors released 14 days in Attleboro, 15 days in Wellesley, 17 days in Hopkinton, and 18 
 days in Brockton. ** North Star Academy Charter School left it blank (210 student days). 
 
 4. Are middle schools in your district designated as Elementary (900 hours) or 
 
 Secondary (990 hours)? 
 
 Designated as: 
 
 Number of School 
 Districts 
 
 Elementary 
 
 112 
 
 Secondary 
 
 97 
 
 No Separate Middle Schools 
 
 130 
 
 Total 
 
 339 
 
5a. For Districts with half-day kindergarten program only: 
 
 Total Hours Per Year 
 
 Number of Reporting School Districts 
 
 425 Hours 
 
 1 
 
 426 - 450 Hours 
 
 58 
 
 451 -500 Hours 
 
 67 
 
 More than 500 Hours 
 
 27 
 
 Total 
 
 153 
 
 5b. For Districts with full-day kindergarten program only: 
 
 Total Hours Per Year 
 
 Number of Reporting School Districts 
 
 Fewer than 1,000 Hours 
 
 27 
 
 1,001 - 1,100 Hours 
 
 12 
 
 1,101 - 1,200 Hours 
 
 15 
 
 More than 1,200 Hours 
 
 6 
 
 Total 
 
 60 
 
If there were any obstacles to achieving Time and Learning compliance throughout your district, 
 rank order up to three (3) key obstacles "1", "2", "3", with "1" being the major obstacle. 
 
 
 NUMBER OF TIMES SELECTED BY SUPERINTENDENT AS: 
 
 OBSTACLE 
 
 MAJOR 
 OBSTACLE 
 
 SECOND 
 OBSTACLE 
 
 THIRD 
 OBSTACLE 
 
 TOTAL TIMES 
 SELECTED 
 
 *0 OBSTACLES REPORTED 
 
 
 
 
 191 (56.3%) 
 
 'eacher Contract Negotiations 
 
 110 
 
 23 
 
 1 
 
 134 
 
 financial Issues Other Than 
 Contracts 
 
 16 
 
 34 
 
 24 
 
 74 
 
 Jtaff Resistance 
 
 11 
 
 36 
 
 12 
 
 59 
 
 rransportation Contract 
 Negotiations 
 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 24 
 
 Support Staff Contract 
 Negotiations 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 Dther 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 13 
 
 3 arental Resistance 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 : 6 
 
 11 
 
 Community Resistance 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 74 (21.8%) reported three obstacles. 
 
 44 (13.0%) reported two obstacles. 
 
 30 (8.8%) reported only one obstacle and 25 of the 30 selected 'Teacher Contract Negotiations"