Compares student academic and nonacademic outcomes for year-round (YR) and traditional-calendar schools in a metropolitan school district with 36% of its elementary students in YR schools. Interviews with teachers and administrators in six schools suggest reasons for the better academic achievement in YR schools. (SLD)

Examined achievement differences between year-round and traditional calendar students using 2 years of data from North Carolina public school students in grades 3-8. Results indicated that achievement in year-round schools was no higher than in traditional calendar schools, and differential effects for certain student subgroups, although…

Research on the relationship of instructional time and achievement of handicapped students is reviewed, and implications are considered for policy matters (including the effects of increasing the school calendar length and lengthening the school day and the impact of service delivery systems selected for handicapped students). (CL)

This report examines both the educational and political dimensions of time reform. It presents the findings of a wide range of research on time reform, discusses the impact of various time reforms on the life of schools and beyond, and makes recommendations for policymakers about how to best leverage time in and out of school to improve student…

Year-round schools are not a new phenomenon in American education. During the 19th century, cities such as Chicago, Boston, Washington, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit held school sessions of 48 or more weeks per year. The traditional calendar is a misnomer; it came about primarily as a compromise between urban and rural legislators. Renewed…

A Yuma (Arizona) elementary school district discovered that year-round schooling is doable, if the community is ready. Before proceeding, superintendents should do their homework, involve the community, form a support group to solidify acceptance, rally colleagues, develop a multiyear implementation plan, collect data on issues raised in the…

Year-round schools operate 12 months rather than the traditional 9- or 10-month schedule. On a multitrack year-round schedule, attendance is staggered so that some students are on vacation while others attend school the usual number of days (about 180). Year-round schools can usually accommodate more students and offer an alternative to…

The September-June calendar makes little sense instructionally or academically, as it was designed for the agricultural economy of the early 1800s. This article suggests that year-round education, originally a response to overcrowding, can benefit students' learning process, increase attendance, and reduce vandalism and instructional costs per…

Discusses various year-round education plans, their effect on student achievement and dropout rates, and their advantages and disadvantages. If a year-round schedule is to be successful, all parties, including parents, must be involved in the planning process. An 18-month planning period and clearly defined goals and objectives are essential. (17…

Past efforts to improve education have focused on curriculum and instruction. Some schools are pursuing more systemic year-round schooling and 4-day week reforms. The Waihe'e Elementary School and the Star of the Sea School, both in Hawaii, are implementing single-track plans for year-round schooling to improve academic achievement,…

The traditional September-through-June school calendar does not provide enough time to meet students' educational needs. Year-round education helps schools meet the needs of all students and rightfully keeps students from working in industrial jobs until graduation. A longer school year would make better use of school facilities, increase teacher…

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…

In designing the evaluation of year round schools (YRS) in Cherry Creek, four questions dealing with major concerns in determining the effectiveness of YRS were posed: What are the characteristics of school programs associated with YRS? What is the reaction of parents to the YRS, its inconveniences and conveniences? What are the effects of YRS on…

AT THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL, A LONGITUDINAL STUDY ATTEMPTED TO FIND OUT IF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE CHILDREN WHO ATTENDED THE EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR OF THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM SHOWED SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT AND ADJUSTMENT AS COMPARED WITH CHILDREN OF A SIMILAR MEAN IQ WHO ATTENDED ONLY DURING THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR.…