Summer usually has been the time for kids to get nearly three months off for the purpose of enjoying family vacation, attending camp, and just being lazy. However, the 75 or so lazy days of summer have now reached the point where they have dwindled down to about 50, as more and more schools have been finding themselves in the process of adopting…

"Shhh... quiet please!" is a familiar utterance at libraries across the country. However, if one were to visit Summit Educational Resources library media center he or she would most likely encounter not only lots and lots of noise, but children who are learning how to check out books, listen to a story, and properly interact with their peers.…

Uses multiple-voices methodology to describe lessons learned during implementation of year-round school calendar at the Francis Howell School District, the first and longest running year-round school in North America. (Contains 25 references.) (PKP)

After 14 years of success with year-round scheduling, a Colorado school district returned to a single-track calendar. Among the reasons cited are community members' desire for neighborhood schools and administrator burnout. Lists six suggestions for making year-round education work. (MLF)

Approximately 600 schools nationwide began the 1989-90 school year on a 12-month calendar, a 20 percent increase over last year. The traditional calendar was designed for an agrarian society and is no longer needed. Year-round schools offer more continuous learning and less learning loss during the summer months. (MLF)

Describes four school districts that operate year-round schools: Socorro Independent School District, Texas; Valley View School District, Romeoville, Illinois; Murrieta Valley Unified School near San Diego, California; and Rock Island-Milan School District in northwestern Illinois. Briefly describes three tracks of year-round education:…

Describes the variations of year-round education (YRE) plans being used across the country including the 45-15 plan, and the 60-20 plan used by the Oxnard School District (CA). Discusses the school design needs of YRE programming and the structural planning involved in Oxnard's Christa McAuliffe Elementary School. (MD)

A combination class is formed when students from two adjacent grades are placed in one classroom under the supervision of one teacher. Two recent studies indicate that combination classes may contribute to lower student achievement in multitrack year-round schools. (eight references) (MLF)

Combining the Copernican Plan (a block-schedule variation) and year-round schooling may make both proposals more palatable to the general public. Since the plan leaves facilities, teacher contracts, and current budgets virtually unchanged, serious public resistance is unlikely. Principals should first introduce Copernican scheduling and then use…

To assess thinking of parents on year-round education, survey forms were sent to 398 households with children enrolled in elementary school. With 236 of questionnaires returned, only 10 percent favored adopting such a plan whereas 83 percent preferred staying with traditional schedules. Lists arguments in favor and arguments opposed along with…

Eight high schools in three California school districts are on multitrack year-round schedules. Interviews with personnel from these schools and from two districts considering a year-round schedule highlight the effect of year-round schedules on student learning, management issues, extracurricular activities, and school culture. (MLF)

Mossie J. Richmond, Jr. responds to Keith Baker's criticisms directed at "Effects of Extended School Year" (Education, 97, 392-8), maintaining that Baker has criticized research and research methodology with which Baker has never come in contact. Richmond presents definitions, classifications, and rationale for his research methodology.…

Schools adopt extended year calendars for various reasons, including fuel conservation and improvement of educational opportunities for students. This article describes a program in Jefferson County (Colorado) established to alleviate overcrowding in a large suburban school district that failed to pass bond issues for funding new schools. (MLH)

Profiles some principals of year-round schools. One calls the experience a merry-go-round with no starting or ending. Even principals who strongly endorse the concept say there is no time for long-term planning. Research results on benefits to students and cost savings are also mixed. Year-round schools are gaining wide acceptance, particularly in…

Sweetwater High School's adoption of a year-round schedule was not related to overcrowding, but was designed to serve the needs of Chula Vista (California) schools' highly transient, bilingual population. Despite some problems with scheduling meetings and student teacher visits, the program seemed to deliver instruction effectively. (MLH)