A longer school day may offer students an opportunity to receive more individual attention from teachers and achieve more success in the classroom. This may be beneficial to students who are struggling academically and need more individual instruction from teachers. For example, an educational program called Knowledge Is Power Program has been implemented in 109 charter schools in urban areas across 20 states, as of 2010, and extends the school day from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. According to CNN, 85 percent of Knowledge Is Power Program graduates go on to college.
A longer school day that correlates with a typical workday may be beneficial for students and working families. Whether students are living in a one- or two-parent working household, there may be some lag time when students get out of school and parents are finished working. A longer school day may be a better alternative to paying for after-school care or allowing students to be home alone until parents are done working.
With the increasing popularity of video games and social media websites, a longer school day may offer students an opportunity to participate in more physical activities and improve their overall health. Longer school days may offer students in elementary schools a chance to go out for extended recesses throughout the day, while junior high and high school students may have a chance to participate in gym classes. In addition to a longer school day, the Knowledge Is Power Program program also requires students to spend two Saturdays a month in school, and weekend activities include sports and other recreational activities.
ReadingRocket.org also shows that extending the school day offers students an opportunity to gain exposure in additional subjects. A longer school day allows teacher to balance a core curriculum of math, science, social studies and English with classes in music and the arts. This is an opportunity for students to receive a well-rounded education. Exposure to a wide array of subjects may open up students to new interest and possibilities down the road.