Does America need year-round education? Year round education debates continue as school administrators, teachers, and parents discuss reforms to improve education.
Municipalities have considered modified schedules in the past. Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts recreates life in an 1830s New England farming village. Historians report that children attended school through the winter- December to March-and in summer from the middle of May to August. Classes were interrupted at spring planting and fall harvesting time so children could help parents on the farm. On November 28, 1882, the New York Times described Dr. A. Jacobi's presentation to the County Medical Society regarding a petition to the Board of Education by Harlem Medical Association, who had questioned the effects of summer heat on the minds and bodies of students. Dr. Jacobi concluded that the industrial city's unhealthy air and crowded classrooms exacerbated disease and sunstroke. It's unclear whether his suggestion to delay returning to school until the middle or end of September was realized.
Will adjustments in scheduling produce educational benefits or simply increase time spent in school? NEA Today, the online journal of the National Education Association asked the question "Should summer vacation be split into shorter breaks year-round?" A third-grade teacher from Michigan favors a year-round schedule with four major breaks to diminish learning loss by students and enable teachers to attend seminars. But a teacher in Tennessee laments that system would prevent her from attending summer courses toward a Master's degree. High school students typically work during the summer to earn college tuition, and shorter two-week breaks four times a year will not tempt employers to hire them. In hot southwestern regions, traditional vacation periods can be boring and frustrating for children when 120-degree temperatures hinder outdoor play. However, family management is difficult if schools within a district are on dissimilar schedules. Only 4% of America's schools are currently on a year-round schedule. Conflicts arise when one child is enrolled in year-round education and another attends a traditional nine-month school or if several children follow revolving schedules.
Because modifications involve more than students and teachers, consensus is difficult. What is the impact on extra-curricular programs, daycare centers, parents, employers and local businesses? Beyond the upheaval in lifestyles is an important factor: money. Teachers have the option of increasing earnings by working year-round, or working less by sharing a position. Adjusting to year-round education requires school districts to address issues of teachers' salaries, employment benefits, personal scheduling, professional development and participation in extra-curricular activities. Maintenance costs matter when a school closed for winter vacation still needs heat and when extra air conditioning is required to keep schools open in summer. In newer school buildings, HVAC systems offer more efficient climate control for year-round use, but thousands of financially strained towns have rural classrooms needing renovations.
Intermingled with personal and practical considerations is increased global competition. Can our students stand up to worldwide challenges from other countries focused on advanced math and science? Multiple studies reviewed by the American Educational Research Association indicated that achievement test scores decline over lengthy vacations, spurring the debate for year-round education.
Since instituting a pilot program for K-5 students in 1989, Wake County, North Carolina, has increased year-round schools. Officials conclude the multi-track year-round calendar can accommodate 10-33% more students. However, opponents attempted to halt more conversions; since May, 2007, parents or guardians must consent before pupils attend year-round or modified calendar schools. Wyomena Park in Ocala was one of Florida's three pilot schools in year-round education. Disappointed with scholastic results and increased operating expenses, they have returned to a traditional calendar.
Supporters highlight benefits of year-round schools:
Those who resist year-round schools perceive problems:
Despite the controversy, the National Association for Year-Round Education (NAYRE) estimates that in 2007 over 2 million students were enrolled in more than 3,000 year-round schools in 46 states. Varying schedules allow 180 days of instruction, on single-track or multi-track programs, which stagger learning and vacation periods, reducing the student population at any given time. Government agencies, educators, and parents are engaged in a long-term mission to develop a world-class school system that can withstand global competition. Year-round education remains one of the major topics of discussion.
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