Ford Foundation to Support Longer School Year in 5 States

Five states announced Monday that they will add at least 300 hours to their school calendars starting next year, with help from two nonprofit organizations that have pressed for the reform, says the Associated Press.

The Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time & Learning will steer resources into the three-year pilot program in Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Tennessee aimed at boost student achievement and U.S. schools’ global competitiveness. The foundation pledged $50-million in May to efforts to lengthen the school year.