They will be able to make up lost instructional time.

"Almost every middle school that's succeeded has felt the need to provide that additional instructional time."

But there are only about 9,000 hours of classroom instructional time available.

"But we have concerns about how well this was planned, and whether it should take away from instructional time."

These buildings are where the majority of the academic instructional time is spent.

"Anything that will let districts increase instructional time makes sense," he said.

Research shows it gives students 4 to 6 weeks of added instructional time.

But if the teachers are feeding the kids in class, he noted, it takes away from instructional time.

But school officials declined the offer because the assembly would have cut into instructional time, he said.

The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the 7th year and to increase instructional time.