Out of the Debate and Into the Schools: Comparing Practices and Strategies in Traditional, Pilot, and Charter Schools in the City of Boston

Research conducted by American Institutes of Research (funded by The Boston Foundation) on extended school days in Boston found that the best-performing schools allow time for teachers to plan cooperatively, focus on professional development, and assess and work with individual students. High-performing schools were purposeful about their teachers’ time (for example, no teachers monitor lunch), and professional learning was built into the school schedule.