Politickernj-State Street Wire - In some quarters, support for a longer school day<P>TRENTON – Some education professionals applauded the governor’s call Tuesday for longer school days and a shorter summer break.

The New Jersey School Boards Association said today that research has shown that increased instructional time is a key to greater achievement. “As far back as 1983, the report, A Nation at Risk: The Imperative For Educational Reform, cited the correlation between gaps in student achievement and the length of the school year among the United States and other countries,” said Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director. Feinsod said that NJSBA is studying student achievement, particularly the gap in performance among students of varying economic backgrounds.  “Our task force will recommend best practices and will undoubtedly consider those that involve increased student-teacher contact time,” he said.

“Expanding learning time, of Democrats and Republicans, business leaders and teachers unions, education leaders and community leaders, parents and civic officials,” said Jennifer Davis, president of the National Center on Time and Learning, a Boston-based non-profit that advocates for expanded learning time.

Davis’ remark underscored something  Senate Education Chair Teresa Ruiz said earlier Tuesday, that the discussion in this legislative session about expanded learning time has to include all of the stakeholders.