Expanded School Schedule at Bowditch School

Two public schools in Salem were awarded $421,500 in grant funds from the Massachusetts’ Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Salem officials announced the news on Monday. The grant funds were awarded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative supporting additional learning time.

Bates Elementary School will receive $140,000 to provide 60 students with free afterschool and summer programming in partnership with For Kids Only Afterschool. By offering both academic and social-emotional programming during the out-of-school time hours, Bates will better meet all students needs through hands-on enrichment activities and community service learning.

Next year, Bowditch K-8, utilizing $281,500 of the grant funds, will implement an expanded school schedule that adds an additional hour and 15 minutes for all students every day. The new school day will include additional time for core academic areas, project-based learning, a targeted intervention block, and enrichment opportunities taught by staff and community partners.

Mayor Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Salem School Committee, said she was grateful to state education officials and the Baker Administration, for recognizing the value of additional learning time and enrichment opportunities for the city’s students.

“Salem is working hard to lift up our schools and provide the highest quality public education to our students,” Mayor Driscoll said in a statement. “Extended learning time is a key part of our strategy to improve our schools and close the achievement gaps in our classrooms. These critical funds will better enable our district to accomplish that goal at the Bates and the Bowditch schools.”