Extending instructional time

Education Week
Is Homeroom Necessary?
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/time_and_learning/2014/04/is_homeroom_necessary.html?cmp=ENL-TU-NEWS3

Many schools across the country are thinking about extending the school day and or school year to increase the amount of instructional time. Yet, is there a way to extend instructional time without lengthening the school calendar?

West Jefferson Hills School District, in Pennsylvania has come up with an alternative plan to gain back valuable teaching time: eliminating homeroom.