End of the Accelerated Learning Academies?

Buried in this morning's Post-Gazette article (Officials defend grade policy) on the Pittsburgh Public Schools' grading controversy were these paragraphs on the three year old Academies:

The board also discussed proposed changes to the eight accelerated learning academies, which opened in August 2006 with a school year 10 days longer and a school day 45 minutes longer than the district standard.

Christiana Otuwa, executive director of the academies, proposed cutting two days from the calendar and about 20 minutes from the school day. The changes would take effect next school year.

It's hard to imagine an educational rationale for a shorter school day and a shorter school year--especially when more time for learning was a distinguishing feature of the ALA school program.

This story is just beginning, but it looks like the beginning of the end for the ALAs.