National Study of Children’s Time Use in School

Using time diaries from a national sample of elementary school teachers, the Center, in collaboration with sociologists from the University of Michigan, investigated how students spend their time in school and the variation of activities depending on student, family, or classroom characteristics.  Initial findings revealed that while poor minority students spend time on academic subjects, they have less exposure than their more affluent peers to enrichment activities that enhance overall development. Subsequent analyses provided information on time devoted to specific activities such as training in the arts.

Funding Sources: MacArthur Research Network on Family and Work; NICHD Family and Child Well-Being Research Network.