Year-Round

SchoolingCourtney CluffEDU 290Th 4pm

What is year-round schooling?

Year-round schooling is a modified schedule for teachers and students which involves year-round schooling with frequent three to four week breaks throughout the year

The end of the school year typically ends with a five week summer break(St. Gerard, 2007)

Background Information Over 2.3 million public school students

in the U.S. participated in the year-round school schedule for the 2002-03 school year

According to NAYRE, approximately 2,200 elementary schools and about 300 public middle schools in the U.S. following a year-round modified schedule(St. Gerard, 2007) (edweek.org)

What is a Modified Schedule?

A modified schedule is one type of schedule based around year-round schooling

In a modified schedule, 180 days of instruction are divided by frequent breaks throughout the year

What is a Multi-Track Schedule?

A multi-track schedule is a specific type of year-round schooling in which students and teachers are placed in “tracks” of the same size

Students and teachers on the same “track” follow the same schedule

This schedule works out so different “tracks” are alternating being on break and being in school

(St. Gerard, 2007) (edweek.org)

Pros to year-round school schedule

Children on year-round schedules tend to retain more information from one session to the next without need to review

Year-round schooling also boosts academic performance for students with learning disadvantages because frequent breaks allow time for them to review and acquire the help they may need

(Anderson, 2007) (St. Gerard, 2007) (edweek.org)

…continued The multi-track

schedule can ease overcrowding by separating the teachers and students into different tracks

In some particular schedules, having a year-round school year can keep education in the U.S. up to the high standards of schools are the world.

Cons to year-round schooling

Without a full summer break, teachers have to adjust to a small amount of preparation time for the next school year.

Year-round schooling conflicts with family life

Summer learning children experience is hindered

Constant breaks serve as a problem to prepare students for state mandated tests

Legislation in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the Wake City County district are planning for an explosion in the amount of students expected to move to this location

Year-round schooling would help solve this problem by alternating school and breaks by putting different students and teachers on “tracks.”

Problems arise when year-round schooling is mandated

Conclusion Past is always a the best predictor for

the future! With that said, more and more districts

around the U.S. are going to implement year-round schooling schedules based on the benefits and the growing amount of districts switching to year-round schooling

Work CitedSt. Gerard, Vanessa. “Year-Round Schools Look Better

All the Time.” Communicator, 30 (February, 2007): 56-8

“Year-Round Schooling.” http://edweek.org/rc/issues/year-round-schooling/ 28 October 2009

Anderson, Joan. Blankenship, Duncan. “School’s Out- or Not.” Teacher Magazine, 18 (May/June, 2007): 10

Gewertz, Catherine. “N.C. District Polling Parents on Year-Round Schools.” Education Week v. 26, (May, 2007) :5