NEW YORK -- A three-year pilot program introduced in New York City will make the school day 2 and a half years longer. The goal is to improve middle-school students' reading skills.
"In New York City, about three fourths of 7th and 8th graders don't read at a proficient level," said Christine Quinn (D) City Council Speaker.
The City Council and the Department of Education are launching a 3-year pilot program to improve reading skills for middle school students.
The program will provide tutoring for 2 and a half hours after school.
At first, the program will include 20 middle schools because education experts say students who fall off track tend to do so in middle school.
Schools chancellor dennis walcott says eventually the program will be expanded to 40 middle schools.
The money to pay for the after-school tutoring is coming from grants, including grants from the City Council and the Department of Education.
New York City school teachers will be asked if they want to stay the extra 2 and a half hours every day to tutor the students. If they don't, the city will bring in outside tutors.
The 20 schools that will be participating will be randomly selected over the next 6 weeks from a pool of applicants.
"In New York City, about three fourths of 7th and 8th graders don't read at a proficient level," said Christine Quinn (D) City Council Speaker.
The City Council and the Department of Education are launching a 3-year pilot program to improve reading skills for middle school students.
The program will provide tutoring for 2 and a half hours after school.
At first, the program will include 20 middle schools because education experts say students who fall off track tend to do so in middle school.
Schools chancellor dennis walcott says eventually the program will be expanded to 40 middle schools.
The money to pay for the after-school tutoring is coming from grants, including grants from the City Council and the Department of Education.
New York City school teachers will be asked if they want to stay the extra 2 and a half hours every day to tutor the students. If they don't, the city will bring in outside tutors.
The 20 schools that will be participating will be randomly selected over the next 6 weeks from a pool of applicants.