In a strategic effort to boost academic achievement and better support student learning, Aiken County Public Schools is proud to announce a new district-wide initiative to extend instructional time for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics in all middle schools, beginning in the 2025–2026 school year.
The Extended Learning Period Initiative is designed to provide students with additional time to engage in critical thinking, skill development, and individualized support in two of the most foundational academic areas. This initiative will increase the daily instructional minutes dedicated to ELA and Math, allowing teachers to deepen instruction, reinforce key concepts, and incorporate targeted interventions and enrichment activities.
“Our goal is to ensure every student has the time and support they need to build strong literacy and math skills, which are essential for long-term academic success,” said Dr. Phyllis Gamble, Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools for Aiken County Public Schools. “This initiative reflects our commitment to equity, excellence, and preparing all students for high school and beyond.”
Key features of the initiative include:
· Increased daily instructional time for ELA and Math across all middle school grade levels.
· Instructional support and training for teachers to enhance lesson planning, differentiated instruction, and data-informed teaching strategies.
· Built-in time for remediation and acceleration to meet the diverse needs of students at all proficiency levels.
· Progress monitoring systems to assess the impact of extended time on student learning and growth.
The decision to extend ELA and Math periods is based on district assessment data, feedback from educators, and national research highlighting the importance of additional instructional time in improving student outcomes—particularly in core subject areas.
As part of a phased approach, Aiken Intermediate School will remain on a traditional schedule for the 2025–2026 school year, with a goal of transitioning to the extended ELA and Math schedule for the 2026–2027 school year. This timeline allows the school to engage in thorough planning and ensure smooth and effective implementation.
Principals and instructional leadership teams will collaborate over the summer to prepare for implementation this fall, ensuring that master schedules, staffing, and instructional resources are aligned with the goals of the initiative.
Parents and guardians will receive more information in the coming weeks about how the extended periods will be integrated into the school day and what it will mean for their child’s learning experience.