A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n
It Takes Time
The National Education Commission on Time and Learning was created by
Congress to examine and report on the quality and adequacy of the study and learning time of U.S.
students K-12. During the past 2 years, the commission has conducted studies, received testimony
from experts, and held public hearings. In May 1994, it released its report, Prisoners of Time.
The commissioners found that the uniform 6-hour day and 180-day year is the unacknowledged
design flaw in American education. They made the following recommendations:
- Reinvent schools around learning rather than time and make a commitment to bring
every child to world-class standards in the core academic areas in the National Goals.
- Use time in new and better ways; state and local boards should work with schools to
redesign education so that time supports learning, instead of marking its limits.
- Establish an academic day that provides at least 5.5 hours of core academic
instruction.
- Keep schools open longer to meet the needs of children and communities; some
schools in every community should remain open throughout the year.
- Give teachers the professional time and opportunities they need to do their jobs.
- Invest in technology to increase productivity, enhance student achievement, and
expand learning time.
- Develop local action plans that offer different school and time options and encourage
parents, students, and teachers to choose among them.
- Share the responsibility---everyone must shoulder their responsibilities to transform
learning in America.
Copies of the report,Prisoners of Time (stock #065-000-00640-5, $5.50), are available from GPO.
National Education Goals
Technology for Teachers