Federal Law Increasing Instruction Time May Overburden Districts

KXTV-TV Sacramento, CA (5/18, Freedburg) reports that despite being "well-intentioned," a proposed Federal law to "reward school districts that increase instruction time" "is emblematic of the mismatch between expectations emanating from Washington and the realities facing California school districts struggling to stay afloat. It is consistent with calls by President Obama and US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for children to spend more time in the classroom, despite California schools' struggle just to keep their doors open for the same number of days as last year." However, states and districts may not be able to afford such measures.