ayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Jean-Claude Brizard announced that elementary schools will adopt a 7-hour day next year and high schools will adopt a 7.5 hour day as CPS moves from the shortest school day and year of any major city to a calendar aligned with national averages. This announcement comes after meetings and discussions with parents who expressed concerns and wanted to be more involved in setting the length of the day.

“Knowledge is the key to the future in today’s world – you earn what you learn. By having the shortest school day and shortest school year of any major city, we shortchanged Chicago’s children,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Beginning next fall, all elementary students will move to a 7 hour school day, and high school students will have a 7.5 school day, with a 75 minute early release one day a week. The announcement was made at Disney II Magnet Elementary School, one of the schools that implemented the Full School Day last fall. Since launching the Full Day last September, students at Disney II have received an additional 185 hours of instructional time, with that time primarily focused on reading, math and science.

“We’re grateful for the example our Pioneer and Charter Schools have set, and their experiences, along with the direct input from parents across the city, have helped us shape a better, fuller school day,” said CEO Jean Claude Brizard.

Elementary Full School Day:

• Students will receive 52 additional minutes of instructional time each day.
• Students will receive 6 hours of instruction and 45 minutes for recess and lunch.
• Students will be in school for 7 hours each day, an increase of 75 minutes.
• Teachers will be in school for 7 hours and 40 minutes, an increase of 85 minutes.

High School Full School Day:

• Students will receive 46 additional instructional minutes four days a week.
• Students will receive 6 hours and 8 minutes of instructional time four days a week.
• Students will be in school for 7 1/2 hours a day, an increase of 36 minutes four days a week.
• One day per week the day will end 75 minutes early.
• Teachers will be in school for 7 hours and 40 minutes, an increase of 39 minutes.