School days are about to get longer for students attending 16 elementary schools across Southwest Florida. It’s part of an effort by the state to improve slumping test scores.
For students, it may feel like detention. But this Fall, the final bell will ring an hour later than usual at 16 Southwest Florida elementary schools.
The Florida Department of Education on Friday released school grades for the 2013-2014 school year for elementary and middle schools.
The lowest 300 elementary schools must add an hour of reading instruction next school year. These schools are on what’s called the “Low 300” list. Two of the schools are in Lehigh Acres, LEHIGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and TORTUGA PRESERVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
But, the extra hour is raising debate among some parents. The head of the Lee County Teacher’s Union calls it bad timing since this as the last year students took the FCAT.
According to the Naples Daily News, Lee County schools only budgeted for five schools to make the list – meaning they may have to pull money from somewhere else. It’s an extra hour that could end up costing extra money.