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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
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
2/2
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