Yearly Educator Pushes for Continuous School Calendar - 'Summer Vacation Is Excessive'
In a bid to combat summer learning loss and improve retention rates, Jake Rupp, a veteran English teacher with 20 years of experience, has advocated for a shift to a year-round school schedule. This proposal involves having schools run continuously all year round, with a two-week break after every nine weeks of school.
Arguments for year-round schooling include several benefits, such as reduced summer learning loss, improved retention of knowledge, support for social and emotional health, and decreased stress and burnout for both students and teachers. Year-round school breaks up the long summer vacation into shorter breaks, helping students maintain educational momentum and avoid the "summer slide" where skills decline during extended time off [1][5].
However, the implementation of year-round school would likely incur higher costs for maintenance, utilities, and staff wages, potentially straining school budgets. Extracurricular activities often follow traditional school calendars, so students may miss out on sports, camps, or programs that occur mainly in summer [1].
The decision to adopt year-round schooling depends on balancing these factors alongside community needs and resources. While year-round schooling can enhance student achievement through improved retention, it presents trade-offs in cost, scheduling, and extracurricular access.
In terms of student achievement and retention rates, year-round schooling is generally believed to improve student retention rates by reducing the gap caused by summer breaks, enabling continuous learning and skill reinforcement. This can help maintain or even improve academic achievement by preventing learning loss [1][5]. However, concrete impacts can vary based on implementation and the quality of instruction during these periods.
A study from 1996 found that students drastically suffer from summer slide in both English and math skills, which can have a snowball effect as they experience subsequent skill loss each year [1]. Year-round schooling could potentially remove the barrier of summer learning loss faced by low-income students, as they tend to fall behind and struggle more to catch up when school begins again in the fall.
On the other hand, the change to year-round school might not happen soon due to budget constraints and other factors. Parents can keep their kids sharp during the summer months by prioritizing reading for pleasure and planning educational but fun experiences like camps based on specific interests, trips to museums, etc.
Year-round schooling may prevent students from experiencing behavioral problems and dropping out. A teacher admitted leaving the profession after a poor experience trying to teach students who didn't want to learn. Long summer breaks can cause student achievement and retention rates to decline, a phenomenon known as the "summer slide." At the beginning of the school year, students have an opportunity to practice valuable skills, such as adapting to new routines and procedures.
However, teachers may face consequences for absenteeism during the summer, as demonstrated by the instance of a teacher being written up for not working for free during the summer. Year-round schooling can support social and emotional health for both students and teachers, potentially reducing stress and burnout.
In conclusion, while year-round schooling presents several advantages for student success, it also raises concerns about operational costs, scheduling conflicts, and extracurricular access. The decision to adopt year-round schooling requires careful consideration and a balance between these factors, community needs, and available resources.
References:
[1] "Year-round schooling: benefits and challenges." Education Week, 2021. [5] "Year-round schooling: a review of the research." National Association for Year-Round Education, 2019.
Year-round schooling could also benefit families by enhancing their children's psychological well-being, as continuous learning may help reduce stress and burnout for both students and teachers, contributing to a healthier home environment.
Moreover, year-round schooling encompasses the concept of lifelong learning by promoting education-and-self-development even during the summer months. This continuous exposure to learning experiences can foster a stronger family bond, as parents and children can engage in learning activities together, thereby strengthening their family ties.
