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National Center on Time & Learning

24 School Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02108

www.timeandlearning.org

Launched in 1992, An Achievable Dream

(AAD) now operates two public schools in

Newport News, Virginia. These two schools,An Achievable Dream Academy and An

Achievable Dream Middle and High School, are

in session more than eight hours each day for

210 days a year, compared to six hours for

180 days per year at other Newport News

Public Schools (NNPS). In addition to a longer

school day and year, AAD schools use a

unique social, academic, and moral curriculum

to prepare students for success both in and out of the classroom.

Although AAD Middle and High School is located near some of Newport News poorest neighborhoods

and serve a high percentage of low income students92% of students qualify for free and reducedlunchthey have produced impressive results. In 2010, 82% and 81% of all students scored proficientor above in English and math, respectively, on

Virginias Standards of Learning assessment

(VSOL). The school also outperformed the

districts scores among low income studentsand nearly matched or exceeded state VSOL

averages in English, math, writing, history, and

science.

Student Schedule at Achievable Dream

The longer school day and year allows AADMiddle and High School to incorporate unique

features for students within the school schedule

in addition to standard core academics andelectives, including:

Social Rotation classesEach day, during Morning Program, middle

school students receive instruction in one of

six social classes that emphasize formal

speaking (i.e. SpeakingGREEN), peaceful

conflict resolution, healthy living, etiquette,

ethics, and financial know how.

SAT prep coursesIn addition to daily English and math periods, high school students receive a daily period of SAT

prep, alternating in focus between the math and verbal portions each day.

An Achievable Dream Middle and High School

(2009-2010)

Principal Timothy Sweeney

School Schedule 8:00 AM4:10 PM

School Year 210 days

Grades Served 612

(2010-2011 will be the first year

of 12th grade)

Number of Students 436

Performance 2009-2010 VSOL Results

Period Sample Grade 7 Schedule

8:00 9:00 Morning Program

9:00 10:40 English

10:40 11:10 Lunch

11:10 12:35 Phys Ed./Art or Tech*

12:35 2:05 Social Studies, Science*

2:05 3:35 Math

3:35

4:10 Reading*Classes alternate daily

Closing the Achievement Gap through

An Expanded School Day and Year:An Achievable Dream Middle and High School

Newport News, VA

77 7683

75 7882 79

92 89 90

0

20

40

60

80

100

English Math Writing History Science

%P

assedVSOL

VSOL Low Income (LI) Student Pass Rates:

NNPS vs. AAD Middle and High School

LI NNPS Students LI AAD Students

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=117&schoolName=3311https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=117&schoolName=3311https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=117&schoolName=3311

7/31/2019 Extended Day and Year at an Achievable Dream Middle and High School (Newport News, VA)_1

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National Center on Time & Learning

24 School Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02108

www.timeandlearning.org

Small group tutoringStruggling students are given small group

support during the second daily period of

English and/or math. This support is led byretired teachers, student teachers, and work

study students in groups of eight students.

Summer sessionAll students in grades three through ten arerequired to attend a four week summerintersession. This period allows struggling

students to review the prior years academic content and for other students to prepare for the

upcoming school year.

TennisAs a required course, each middle school student receives 45 minutes of tennis every other day

during their physical education period.

Staffing the longer school day and year

In 1992, An Achievable Dreams founders reached an agreement with NNPS to open its first publicschool, AAD Academy. Unlike charter schoolswhich Virginia did not allow in 1992AAD Academy

as well as AAD Middle and High School must comply with all district and state obligations, and receive

financial support from NNPS in the same manner as other public schools. However, AAD also relies onoutside donations to fund the additional $2200 required for each student per school year.

Additionally, AAD teacher contracts differ slightly from district contracts. All AAD teachers are

contractually required to teach the extended day, which includes four instructional periods with oneplanning period each day. Furthermore, all teachers in grades three through ten are obligated to staff the

summer intersession. The school compensates each teacher an additional $4500 for the extended day,

and a rate of $30 per hour for staffing the summer intersession.

Period Sample Grade 10 Schedule

8:00 9:37 English

9:41 11:08 History/Biology*

11:12 12:40 SAT Math/SAT Verbal*

12:40 1:10 Lunch

1:14 2:43 Spanish III/Drivers Ed*

2:47 4:10 Algebra/Geometry***Classes alternate daily; **Placement varies by student