The College of Charleston is jointly leading a two-day institute designed to help Charleston County’s lowest performing schools expand their learning time and build crucial partnerships with community organizations. The “New Day for Learning: Expanded Learning Time Institute” will be held Tuesday, June 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the College of Charleston North Campus (5300 International Blvd, Building B).

“Charleston is one of just a handful of cities across the United States working on this type of approach to improve student learning,” says Terry Peterson, Institute keynote speaker, Mott Foundation Afterschool and Community Learning Network director and College of Charleston faculty member. “But, those other cities rarely have universities involved, whereas here, the College is a co-leader of the Institute, which is a unique and important role, given the surrounding demographics.”

There is growing evidence that K-12 students in the Charleston region need to read more proficiently and be better prepared academically, graduate from high school and continue on to some post high school training or college to handle projected jobs in the region. Often, these students need more learning time and more helping hands afterschool and during the summer to learn key concepts and to be motivated to keep on track. The Institute will identify best practices from other cities who have implemented expanded learning times, ideas for expanded literacy and hands-on instruction with coaches.

Participating schools include: Alice Birney Middle School, Burke Middle High School, Chicora Elementary School, E.A. Burns Elementary School, James Simmons Elementary School, Mary Ford Elementary School, Memminger Elementary School, Midland Park Elementary School, Mitchell Elementary School, Morningside Middle School, North Charleston Elementary School, North Charleston High School, Sanders-Clyde Elementary School, Stall High School and W.B. Goodwin Elementary School.

The Institute is presented by the College of Charleston’s School of Education, Health, and Human Performance, Charleston County School District, Cities in Schools, Trident United Way, the North Charleston mayor’s office, and the City of Charleston mayor’s office.

For more information, contact Fran Welch at 843.953.5272.