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Stats in Brief: Instructional Time for Third- and Eighth-Graders in Public and Private Schools

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Stats in Brief: Instructional Time for Third- and Eighth-Graders in Public and Private Schools The amount of time students spend in learning environments, as well STATS IN BRIEF as the amount of time that students U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FEBRUARY 2017 NCES 2017–076 are exposed to instruction in particular subjects, have been topics of debate and concern in education policy and practitioner circles (McMurrer 2008; Instructional Time National Academy of Education 2009). Indeed, an early but foundational review of literature on instructional time highlighted for Third- and its importance for student learning (Berliner 1990). Differences in the use of time, however, make instructional time Eighth-Graders difficult to study. For instance, allocated time—or the time that schools or teachers schedule for instruction in particular in Public and subjects—is distinct from the time that students spend actively engaged with and learning from instructional materials Private Schools: (Berliner 1990). Despite the difficulties in studying instructional time in its varied forms, researchers have agreed that it is School Year 2011–12 important to study the amount of time that students in different grades have been AUTHORS PROJECT OFFICER exposed to particular subjects (Coates Kathleen Mulvaney Hoyer John Ralph Dinah Sparks National Center for Education Statistics 2003; Lanahan, Princiotta, and Enyeart Activate Research, Inc. 2006; Long 2014; Morton and Dalton 2007; Perie, Baker, and Bobbitt 1997). Statistics in Brief publications present descriptive data in tabular formats to provide useful information to a broad audience, including members of the general public. They address topical issues and questions. They do not investigate more complex hypotheses, account for inter-relationships among variables, or support causal inferences. We This publication was prepared for NCES encourage readers who are interested in more complex questions and in- under Contract No. ED-IES-12-D-0002 with depth analysis to explore other NCES resources, including publications, American Institutes for Research. Mention of trade names, commercial products, or online data tools, and public- and restricted-use datasets. See nces.ed.gov organizations does not imply endorsement and references noted in the body of this document for more information. by the U.S. Government. The National Center for Education 60 percent of first-graders in public time spent on specific subjects varies Statistics (NCES) has published a schools spent 90 minutes or more on across grade level (Perie, Baker, and number of reports documenting English instruction each day. A third Bobbitt 1997). This brief extends the the amount of time that students report focused on students in grades discussion of grade-level variation have received instruction in various 1 through 4 included analyses from in the amount of time spent on four subjects. For instance, a 1997 report five survey years of the Schools and core subjects (English, mathematics, that included an analysis of data from Staffing Survey (SASS) beginning with social studies, and science) to grades the 1987–88, 1990–91, and 1993–94 1987–88 and ending with 2003–04. 3 and 8. Focusing on grades 3 and 8 school years found that both public Findings revealed that, in each survey is warranted for a number of reasons. and private school students in grades year, students spent more time on First, research on human development 1 through 4 spent the majority of their English than on mathematics, social has outlined the importance of middle time on core subjects (English/reading/ studies, or science (Morton and Dalton childhood and early adolescence language arts, mathematics, social 2007). (i.e., the years between ages 6 and studies, and science) and that students 14; Eccles 1999). Second, similar spent the most time on English, Using more recent data and similar to previous publications (Hafner, followed by mathematics. This report measures, this Statistics in Brief builds Ingels, Schneider, and Stevenson also indicated that students in grade on prior reports to provide an updated 1990; May, Perez-Johnson, Haimson, 4 spent a smaller percentage of time look at time spent on instruction in Sattar, and Gleason 2009), this report on English and a larger percentage various subjects. Specifically, the brief acknowledges that grades 3 and 8 are of time on social studies and science, presents information on the amount typically accompanied by important compared to students in grade 1 (Perie, of time that students in grades 3 and 8 academic milestones. Grade 3, for Baker, and Bobbitt 1997). A second spent on different subjects in 2011–12 instance, is the year in which students and more recent report focused on and compares how, if at all, this time begin to take state accountability the amount of time that first-graders varied by subject and school sector. assessments required by federal law spent in various instructional activities Additionally, as noted above, previous (May, Perez-Johnson, Haimson, Sattar, (Lanahan, Princiotta, and Enyeart findings indicate that the amount of and Gleason 2009). In grade 8, students 2006). This study found that about 2 are preparing for the transition to Principals who reported grade 3 The brief presents information on secondary education (Hafner, Ingels, enrollment were asked about the weekly time on each subject in two Schneider, and Stevenson 1990). This following subjects:3 ways: (a) the average amount of time report provides additional evidence (in hours) that students spent on • English, reading, or language arts; 4 for research and policy discussions each subject in a typical week; and • arithmetic or mathematics; 5 on instructional time across various (b) the average percentage of time 6 subjects for students in U.S. public and • social studies or history; in a typical week that students spent private schools. • science; on each subject. Time spent is based • physical education; on principal reports of scheduled DATA AND METHODS instruction time for each subject. For • music; The data for this brief come from more details on question wording used • art; and the NCES 2011–12 SASS Public and in the collection of these data, please recess. Private School Principal data files. The • see the Methodology and Technical public and private school principal Principals who reported grade 8 Notes section at the end of the brief. questionnaires asked principals enrollment were asked about the Estimates are presented separately for whether their schools enrolled following subjects: public and private schools. students in grades 3 and 8 and, if • English, reading, or language arts; All differences reported in the text they did, to provide information on arithmetic or mathematics; are statistically significant at the the length of a typical full week of • p < .05 level to ensure that they are school for students in these grades.1 • social studies or history; and larger than might be expected due to Principals who reported enrollment • science. sampling variation. No adjustments in these grades were also asked to were made for multiple comparisons. provide information on the number of For more information about p values, minutes that students spent on certain as well as about the data sources, subjects.2 measures, and methods used in this brief, please see the Methodology and Technical Notes at the end of the report. 3 Principals who reported grade 3 enrollment were also asked about foreign language (not English as a second language [ESL]). For public schools, these estimates do not meet reporting requirements. 4 1 In the text of the brief, use of the term “English” refers to Please note that all estimates in this report pertain to a typical instruction in English, reading, or language arts. week of school as opposed to a typical day of school. Principals 5 In the text of the brief, use of the term “mathematics” refers to did not provide information about a typical day of school. 2 instruction in arithmetic or mathematics. This brief uses the term “subjects” to describe students’ 6 In this brief, use of the term “social studies” refers to instruction activities, even those that are not strictly academic subjects in social studies or history. (i.e., recess). 3 STUDY QUESTIONS On average, how many On average, how much Did the average amount hours were there in time did third- and of time that students a typical full week of eighth-graders spend spent on different 1 school for third- and 2 on different subjects in 3 subjects vary between eighth-graders in the a typical full week in the the third and eighth 2011–12 school year? 2011–12 school year? grades in the 2011–12 school year? KEY FINDINGS Based on reporting by school • On average, third-graders in both • Third-graders in public schools principals, in school year 2011–12: public and private schools spent spent more time—in terms of both a greater amount and a larger the amount and the percentage of • In public schools, a typical full week percentage of time on instruction in time—on English than did eighth- of school was 33.0 hours long for English, followed by mathematics, graders. Meanwhile, third-graders third-graders and 33.8 hours long than on any other subject. in public schools spent less time for eighth-graders. on social studies and science than • On average, eighth-graders in both did eighth-graders. No statistically • In private schools, a typical full week public and private schools spent significant differences were found of school was 33.1 hours long for a greater amount and a larger in the amount or percentage of third-graders and 33.5 hours long percentage of time on instruction in time that third-graders and eighth- for eighth-graders. English than on any other subject. graders in private schools spent on English, mathematics, social studies, or science. 4 On average, how many hours were there in a typical full week of school 1 for third- and eighth-graders in the 2011–12 school year? Public Schools FIGURE 1.
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