Mayor Parker launches 'Extended Day, Extended Year' plan for 25 Philadelphia schools

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Mayor Cherelle Parker announced Thursday that 25 Philadelphia schools will pilot 12 months of learning, and other opportunities outside of normal school hours, this upcoming year.

She says this is not to be confused with year-round school. Rather, it's extended care.

It's also a voluntary program for families.

"The extended day pilot program is not changing the school calendar. It's not mandatory for students to participate," Parker said.

What it does do:

-Opens schools for before-school programming starting at 7:30 a.m. and after-school programming until 6 p.m. for students K-8.

-It also provides continued educational opportunities on half days

-Opens the 25 participating schools for winter break, spring break and six weeks during the summer.

Schools were selected based on their conditions, such as whether the schools had air conditioning and if children are more at-risk in their neighborhoods.

The city and school district were also quick to add, this will not burden their teachers, and they are looking to universities and elsewhere to staff.

"We have a number of universities. We'll be tapping on that expertise," said Superintendent Tony Watlington.

Watlinton said the school board will be voting Thursday night on a multi-million dollar line item to approve funding for those providers.

The teacher's union says it is waiting to hear from the school district on potential impacts to its members.

There are 20 schools in the School District of Philadelphia participating, along with five charter schools in the city.

They are:

School District of Philadelphia schools:

-Vare-Washington Elementary School
-Southwark Elementary School
-Thomas G. Morton Elementary School
-George Childs Elementary School
-Add B Anderson Elementary School
-Alain Locke Elementary School
-Samuel Gompers Elementary School
-Overbrook Educational Center
-Richard R. Wright Elementary School
-Edward Gideon Elementary School
-Solomon Solis-Cohen Elementary School
-John H. Webster Elementary School
-Juniata Park Academy
-William Cramp Elementary School
-Thomas M. Peirce Elementary School
-Joseph Pennell Elementary School
-Franklin S. Edmonds Elementary School
-Laura Carnell Elementary School
-Louis Farrell Elementary School
-Joseph Greenberg Elementary School

Charter schools:

-Belmont Charter School
-Northwood Charter School
-Pan American Charter School
-Mastery Pickett (6-8 only)
-Universal Creighton Charter School

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