Senator Kennedy, along with Senators Bingaman and Sanders, introduced the Time for Innovation Matters in Education Act, S.3431 , which establishes a federal expanded learning time pilot project to lengthen the school day, week and/or year. This is the companion bill to the legislation introduced earlier this year by Representative Payne, which was also included in the House Discussion Draft of ESEA.

The legislation outlines a focus on increasing time for both academic and “enrichment activities that contribute to a well-rounded education,” including music, arts, physical education, service-learning, and work-based learning opportunities.  In addition, strong language on partnerships, community learning centers and afterschool is incorporated in meaningful ways throughout the legislation.  Of particular note:

• One of the explicit purposes of the legislation is “to create partnerships between schools and local educational agencies, and external organizations such as community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, community learning centers, cultural organizations, and health and mental health agencies to provide expanded learning and development opportunities for students.”
• Priority for all grants in the legislation is given to applications that serve high need students and that include a community-based organization, institution of higher education, community learning center, or an entity carrying out an afterschool program
• Applications for implementation grants are required to include an assurance that afterschool services will be provided for students participating in the expanded learning time initiative at the end of the newly redesigned school day