Confronted by overcrowded schools and tight budgets, school districts in about 30 states are keeping schools open year round. This is not extending the school year; year-round students attend the same number of days as those on the traditional calendar, but the year-round students have several short breaks. More students can fit into existing buildings, saving millions on construction costs. Most year-round schools use a multi-track calendar, with the most popular schedule being 45 days of class (9 weeks) followed by 15 days off (3 weeks). The chief reason is to avoid the cost of building new schools. The primary educational benefit is that year-round schooling facilitates continuous learning and reduces the need for review. While community opposition is usually strong at the outset, parental attitudes become progressively more positive as the programs continue. Teacher acceptance, generally more favorable to begin with, also increases over time. In one survey, 82 percent of students were satisfied with year-round schooling. (Contains 8 references.) (SLD)