Longer Day Outlined For More Than 5K Mass. Students

More than 5,000 public school students in two Massachusetts school districts will take part in a three-year pilot program that aims to boost student achievement by lengthening the school day.

Schools in the cities of Fall River and Lawrence will add 300 hours to their school year starting in 2013 as part of the three-year program.

The program, which includes four other states, will receive federal, state and district funding. The Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time & Learning are also contributing resources.

The initiative aims to improve the global competitiveness of U.S. students by expanding and better using the school day. Massachusetts already has 65 schools with expanded learning time, including 19 whose programs are state-funded.

The state was early adopter of expanded learning, starting its programs in 2006.