One outstanding PTA created effective communication between school and home in order to facilitate the transition from a traditional school calendar to year-round school. The Home-School Communication Project provides information via a communication folder for families of in-school children; a newsletter for all families; and a PTA telephone…

Poses six questions for administrators considering a year-round, multitrack school schedule. Discusses probable constraints concerning implementation levels, class organization, staff preparation, and impact on plant maintenance, summer school programs, and community relations. Classroom sharing and summer school present special difficulties;…

Describes how early literacy practices were extended to accelerate the literacy progress of at-risk third- through sixth-grade students through a summer school model and an intersession model for year-round schools. Concludes that both models produced impressive gains in reading achievement, with the year-round intersession model producing the…

The year-round school is an educational change effort that seeks to affect per-pupil costs and academic achievement. The experience of a Maui school district shows that it must be planned in the context of the change process, expectations for success must be carefully developed, and the context of change may change, requiring a reassessment of…

A year-round magnet elementary school in Salem, Massachusetts, has increased its family involvement by borrowing elements from many models. The school has mixed-age groupings, integrated social services, and community outreach strategies such as a parent center, business-sponsored Friday clubs, and celebrations of learning. (MLH)

Discusses the advantages of an extended school year and block scheduling for science learning. (DDR)

This article presents an interview with Dr. Gerald W. Bracey, author of "Reading Educational Research: How to Avoid Getting Statistically Snookered." During the interview, Bracey explains why he considers the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as a "weapon of mass destruction" and that he sees nothing to suggest that NCLB has…

This publication describes the issues pertinent to year-round education (YRE). YRE addresses two key problems: (1) making efficient use of current school facilities; and (2) maximizing student learning outcomes. The various forms for implementing YRE at the local level--pilot schools, schools-within-a-school, plan-within-a-plan, and paired and…

Suggestions to make some Holmes Group proposals into workable platforms for action are made. These include twelve-month employment for professionals, changes in classroom teaching, professional development schools which reflect the unity of the workplace, reconceptualization of professional knowledge, and coordination of teacher education and the…

This series of articles presents a rationale for year-round programs in vocational agriculture. The National Vocational Agricultural Teachers' Association position statement is given, and ideas for planning summer programs and supervised occupational experiences are provided. (SK)

Growth in student enrollment is a statewide phenomenon in California. Options to overcrowding include year-round education, portable classrooms, new school construction, and maintenance of existing schools. The Association of California School Administrators is seeking specific legislative remedies. (MLF)

Adopting a year-round education schedule can be a traumatic experience in many school communities. A three-part process can help districts implement year-round education: (1) involve as many participants as possible; (2) identify the pros and cons of each factor; and (3) develop a survey instrument to weigh all of the issues. (MLF)

The effects and educational equity of an innovative year-round school plan, the Concept 6 calendar, were studied in 23 urban elementary schools and 2 matched comparison schools. Examination of a six-school subsample indicated that the schedule had no adverse effects, although positive effects were not readily identifiable. (SLD)

A series of articles discusses the importance of summer vocational agricultural education programs in terms of teaching, planning, and evaluation. That agricultural production is a year-round activity and that most of the growing takes place in the summer months are only two reasons to support summer programs. (JOW)

Describes a year-round alternative school program for disruptive students that relies on community resources to help the students and also involves parents. (IRT)