NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The school day is about to get longer for some New York City school kids — and we’re not talking a couple of minutes. It’s about to be two and a half hours longer.

If scores go up, the plan could be extended city-wide, CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reported Monday.

Will an intensive reading program and an extended school day help Johnny read?

City officials hope so. They’re launching a pilot program with 2,000 middle school students to see if it’s an idea whose time has come.

“It’s where the achievement gap really seems to grow, in New York City about three-fourths of seventh and eighth graders. Three-fourths of seventh and eighth graders do not read at a proficient level,” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said.