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Devoting 60 minutes of the school day to math and 90 minutes per day on reading was <br />considered important by approximately 93 percent of parents. <br />Other elements of the study showed these percentages of respondents who rated <br />the component as very important or somewhat important: <br />-an emphasis on character education 83 percent <br />-ensuring that each student has access <br />to a computer at home 77 percent <br />-use of parent contracts 75 percent <br />-students stay with the same teacher <br />for two years 63 percent <br />One component which fewer respondents rated as important or very important <br />was: <br />-an increase of 30-40 minutes in the <br />school day 56 percent <br />(A substantially larger portion of residents of Southern Village, 81 percent, rated a longer <br />school day as very important or somewhat important.) <br />Calendar <br />The survey elicited mixed response to the questions about the school calendars. <br />No clear preference emerged between the.traditional calendar and year -round calendar. If <br />the school operates with a traditional calendar, 54 percent of the respondents said they <br />were very likely or somewhat likely to choose the new elementary school. If the school <br />operates with a year -round calendar, 50 percent of respondents said they were very likely <br />or somewhat likely to choose the new school. FGI noted that among the respondents, 183 <br />parents were likely to choose the new school if either calendar were adopted. <br />If a year -round calendar is adopted, 73 percent of respondents said it would be <br />important to provide remedial programs during the intercessions, 66 percent said it would <br />be important to provide enrichment programs during the intersessions and 59 percent said <br />it would be important to provide child care during the intersessions. <br />Other areas <br />Most of the respondents, 79 percent, have a computer that can access the Internet. <br />Respondents requested additional information in these areas: transportation, curriculum, <br />teacher background, programs for exceptional children, afterschool care, and character <br />education, among others. <br />2 <br />