Year Round Schools
By:McKenzie Kramer
What is it?
- Schools that go for at least 48 weeks at a time
- 12 weeks in school then a one week break
- 12 weeks in school 4 week break (typically in August)
When was it started?
- started in the 1990's
- usually in urban areas where agricultural cycle was not important
- started in Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit
What are the advantages?
- calendar more balanced- do not have as hard of time transitioning from time off to going back to school
- studies show that these students do slightly better in school
- more frequent breaks can be used to help students who are struggling
- students are engaged in learning for the majority of the year- do not have to relearn things after summer break
- schools not sitting empty for summer months
- less absences- more frequent breaks to "reload and recharge"
What are the disadvantages?
- hard to find childcare for off weeks
- older students can not have summer job
- may be more expensive for schools because they have to keep them going year round
- teachers do not have as much time to prepare for the next school year