Kirk, Booker Introduce Legislation Supporting Year-Round Schools

Press Release

U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today introduced The All-Year School Study Act, legislation that would promote year-round elementary and secondary school programs in order to boost academic achievement in low-income, low-performing school districts throughout the country. Modeled after the program at Alain Locke Charter School on Chicago's West Side, which has classes year-round, the All-Year School Study Act would authorize $4 million in federal resources and utilize existing funds already appropriated to the Fund for the Improvement of Education. The grants awarded would be disbursed to four schools in geographically diverse areas of the nation and priority would be given to low-income communities and low--performing schools, in addition to schools that actively promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education programs.

"The students at Alain Locke in Chicago are outperforming their peers in math by 25 percent, and the school's extended day program has helped to keep students off the streets and in the classroom," Senator Kirk said. "In order to boost the success of every student, programs like Alain Locke's should be replicated across the country so that our kids can compete on a global stage and go toe-to-toe with their peers."

"If we want to prepare all of our young people for the jobs of tomorrow, we need a 21st century school calendar that acknowledges that we live in a much more competitive world," Senator Booker said. "This legislation empowers schools with the greatest need to address this achievement disparity and level the playing field for students to succeed.

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