OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha schools are finding different uses for the extra 20 to 25 minutes added to the school day this fall.

The Omaha Public Schools board voted in June to extend the school day, which was previously shorter than in surrounding districts. Officials said Omaha students, who score lower on state tests than peers, could benefit from more classroom time.

Uses for the added time include silent reading, longer recess, and more of a focus on science and social studies. Many elementary schools are using it to devote extra attention to math, reading and writing.

The decision to extend the school day rankled parents and teachers. School board president Lou Ann Goding says much of the outcry over the decision seems to have dissipated.