Assembly Panel OKs Longer School Year

A bill that would pay for a pilot plan to extend the academic year by 15 days at Oxnard’s high schools cleared it’s first hurdle in the state Assembly with bipartisan support, officials said.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Nao Takasugi (R-Oxnard), passed the Assembly Education Committee by an 11-0 vote Wednesday.

“I am very pleased we got bipartisan support,” Takasugi said. “It bodes very well for the bill.”

Under the measure, which has strong backing from Oxnard Union High School District Supt. Bill Studt, all of the district’s students would attend school 187 days, instead of 180, during the 1996-97 phase-in year. During each of the following three years, the students would attend school for 195 days.

The students’ progress would be monitored to determine whether the added class time improves academic achievement, Studt said.

“This pilot program will give California a priceless look into the effectiveness of a longer school year,” Studt said.

The plan would cost an added $1.8 million the first year and $3.5 million for each year thereafter.

Supporters of the plan argue that students in other industrialized countries receive better education than their American counterparts because their school year is longer. Students in Germany have 240 days of instruction each year, and students in Japan, 243.

The measure will be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee later this month. It could come up for a vote before the whole Assembly as early as May, Takasugi said.