Year-round school is an educational system in which students attend school during the entire year, instead of the traditional nine-month academic school year Each school year is divided into multiple terms, which is why it is also sometimes referred to as multi-track year-round school. Generally, the school year is divided into four tracks lasting for nine to ten weeks each. Between each track, students have time off, usually a break of two to three weeks.
Year-round school is becoming more popular, as more and more school districts are switching from the traditional nine-month academic year to a year-round model. It is important to consider the benefits that year-round school can bring, both for the students and the school districts.
1. Academic Achievement: It has been found that attending year-round school can improve academic achievement. This is because students have shorter summer breaks, which allows them to retain more of the material they learned during the school year and avoid “summer learning loss.” Students also benefit from more frequent breaks throughout the year, as they are less likely to become bored or overwhelmed by long stretches of school.
2. Lowered Costs: Year-round school can help school districts save money. When compared to traditional nine-month academic school years, year-round school requires fewer teachers, as there are shorter periods of instruction. This can lead to lower teacher salaries and lower overall costs for the school districts.
3. Improves Attendance: Year-round school can also help improve student attendance. Since the academic year is divided into multiple tracks, students are less likely to miss a large chunk of school due to an extended illness or vacation.
4. Increased Parent Involvement: Year-round school can also increase parent involvement. Since the academic year is spread out over multiple tracks, it is easier for parents to attend school events and functions, as there are multiple breaks throughout the year for them to take part in these activities. Additionally, year-round school also encourages more frequent parent-teacher conferences, which can help facilitate more dialogue between parents and teachers.
5. Social Engagement: Finally, year-round school can also help increase student social engagement. Since students have more frequent breaks throughout the year, they are able to interact with their peers during these breaks, which can help improve their social skills. Additionally, since students are able to attend school alone different terms, they can make new friends and build relationships with their peers.
Overall, there are many benefits that come with year-round school, both for students and school districts. It can help improve academic achievement, lower costs, increase parent involvement, and improve student social engagement. It is important to consider these benefits when deciding between year-round school and traditional nine-month academic school years.