As reported by the Center for American Progress, New York is poised to take an important step to improve student achievement by expanding learning time for students attending high-poverty, low-performing schools.

New York took advantage of its Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to expand the learning day in its lowest performing schools.  As described,

Focused on its lowest-performing schools, the New York State Education Department, or NYSED, has used its ESEA waiver to require priority schools to expand the learning day by a minimum of 200 hours per school year for all students in a school building. In addition to using 21st CCLC grant funds, some schools will have the option of utilizing a statewide grant focused on expanding the school day, as proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in January 2013. This competitive grant program will support schools that develop approved plans to improve student achievement that include extending the school day or year by at least 25 percent. The New York state legislature funded the $20 million grant program in March 2013 and NYSED released a request for proposals. The grantees will be announced this year.

Maryland used an ESEA waiver to implement its College and Career Ready Standards, new online state assessments, and to provide time and support for new teacher-principal evaluations, among other reforms. For more information, see the Maryland Department of Education.

For more information on New York’s program, see the full story from the Center for American Progress.