Chicago Push For Longer School Day Meets Resistance

NPR's "Morning Edition" (4/24) reports on the controversy surrounding the push in Chicago to extend the school day, noting that since taking office, Mayor Rahm Emanuel "has been pushing to lengthen the day to 7 1/2 hours in every school" from its current level of 5 hours and 45 minutes. "At some city schools, parents, teachers and principals have agreed to a longer day." However, "Emanuel's plan to lengthen the school day has run into resistance. Teachers balked: The Chicago Teachers Union says that while it doesn't oppose a longer day, teachers should be paid more for the extra time, they need more classroom resources, and more teachers and staff need to be hired." Audio of this story can be heard here.