District’s answer to low scores: extra hours

Escambia County Superintendent of Schools Malcolm Thomas has his answer for the district’s 13 low performing elementary schools.

Brentwood, C.A. Weis, Ensley, Global Learning Academy, Longleaf, Montclair, Navy Point, Oakcrest, O.J. Semmes, Reinhardt Holm, Sherwood, Warrington, West Pensacola will start their day 30 minutes early and conclude 30 minutes later than the standard time.

Extra hours have been tried before – In August 2013 the extended-day schools were Global Learning Academy, Holm, Lincoln Park, Montclair, West Pensacola and C.A. Weis elementariness.

In 2014, it was Montclair Elementary School, West Pensacola Elementary School, O.J. Semmes Elementary School, Holm Elementary School, C. A. Weis Elementary School, and Global Learning Academy.

Let’s recap – since 2013, these school have had extra hours and they still are low performers

Global Learning Academy 2013: D 2014: C 2015: C 2016: D

Holm 2013: C 2014: D 2015: D 2016: D

Montclair 2013: C 2014: D 2015: F 2016: F

West Pensacola 2013: F 2014: F 2015: C 2016: D

C.A. Weis 2013: C 2014: D 2015: F 2016: F

No one will argue that extended-days don’t help students, but clearly the initiative is not a “silver bullet” that turns around a school.

More is needed.

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Author: Rick Outzen

Rick Outzen is the publisher/owner of Pensacola Inweekly. He has been profiled in The New York Times and featured in several True Crime documentaries. Rick also is the author of the award-winning Walker Holmes thrillers. His latest nonfiction book is “Right Idea, Right Time: The Fight for Pensacola’s Maritime Park.”