BILLY SHIELDS: Over at Woodville Elementary, it's the first day of school, in July.

NSOMBI MORRISON: We are sure that we are going to continue to soar and grow this school year.

BILLY SHIELDS: It's a pilot program called RPS200, kids are starting the school year early at four Richmond Public Schools.

It's the first early start at Woodville and also at Oak Grove-Bellemeade schools.

Cardinal and Fairfield Court elementary schools participated in the program last year.

ANGELA WRIGHT: We actually go to school 200 days, so we have 20 extra days.

We start building relationships, we have our processes, routines in place and procedures, and we have our data from the spring that we can continue to close those gaps and build our kids.

BILLY SHIELDS: You can see the enthusiasm for the project among school administrators.

At Fairfield, for instance, they point to improved early literacy and reduced absenteeism.

But the enthusiasm is not shared by everyone.

BETH ALMORE: We feel like we as a school system are under-resourced for 180 days.

BILLY SHIELDS: Beth Almore taught When she learned it was joining the pilot project in April, she transferred out.

BETH ALMORE: I honestly think that a lot of the outcomes are being misattributed to the extension of the school year.

RPS has done some wonderful initiatives to improve absenteeism, community outreach, providing children the resources they need to attend school.

But that is not a function of extending the school year.

Meanwhile, over at Woodville, Richmond's mayor was on hand to welcome kids back to class.

Administrators hope that the school sees the benefits they've been touting to narrow the city's learning gap.

Billy Shields, VPM News.