The latest on the brouhaha in Chicago over extending one of the nation's shortest school days – charter schools yet again leading in innovation:

Chicago Public Schools announced Sunday it will give $75,000 grants to 36 charter schools so they can lengthen their school days in January and be studied before all traditional CPS schools switch to a longer day in the fall of 2012.

The announcement comes after CPS agreed Nov. 4 to stop asking schools represented by the Chicago Teachers Union to join the longer-school-day pilot program.

…Thirteen traditional CPS schools already have or will go to the longer day for the 2011-2012 school year and received the same teacher stipends and grant money.

The remaining traditional CPS schools will continue to have 300 minutes of instruction until the 2012-2013 school year, when all CPS schools will be required to go to the 390-minute day.

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$75,000 grants mean longer days at 36 CPS charter schools

By MICHAEL LANSU and MITCH DUDEK Staff Reporters November 21, 2011 12:02AM

http://www.businesswithoutborders.com/?WT.mc_id=HBUS_WES0022962