This study was conducted to: (1) determine if the intercession calendar, an alternative calendar that reduces the total school year for students who do not need remediation, positively impacts overall student achievement; (2) to assess the explanatory ability of the intercession model in accounting for student academic achievement variability; and…

This paper examines the parents', staff members', and students' satisfaction with the intersession activities of a year-round elementary school. "Intersession" is defined as the period of time when students receive remediation in problem areas. The school cited in the report was chosen from a district that had recently implemented a…

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,…

Star of the Sea School, located in the Wai'alae-kahala area of Honolulu, implemented year-round schooling (YRS) in 1991. This publication describes the history of YRS, the status of YRS in the Pacific region, and outcomes of the Star of the Sea's program. The private Catholic K-8 school adheres to a 45-10 plan, which includes 180 regular school…

This paper presents findings of a study that explored parent satisfaction with Year-Round Education (YRE) and its impact on family lives. Data were gathered through 20 interviews with parents of children who attended 2 elementary schools during the first year of a year-round pilot program in a large suburb adjacent to a midwestern city.…

Year-round education (YRE) has been brought increasingly to the forefront of the debate over educational reform. Although the results of year-round school studies are mixed, three specific elements are evident in successful programs--reduced curriculum review, increased instructional time, and improved student outcomes. This report introduces the…

This publication examines year-round education (YRE) and answers questions commonly asked by parents. Chapter 1 provides a description and historical overview of YRE and outlines various single- and multi-track school calendars. Chapter 2 addresses common parental concerns about YRE, including: the difficulty of changing the traditional school;…

This 10-year follow-up three-part evaluation describes how well the City of Buena Vista (Virginia) Public Schools implemented a year-round school program for high school students. The focus of the program was the organization and development of a tuition-free extended-school-year quarter plan that included a voluntary fourth quarter. The…

There is no lack of debate regarding year-round schooling. Emotions run high when school districts tamper with the "traditional" agrarian school calendar and adapt a year-round calendar. This study examines one program in a multi-track year-round elementary school, a tutoring program delivered during the students' intersession. Through…

Moving from a traditional to a balanced, year-round calendar is as much a philosophical as a schedule change. A balanced calendar, with a variety of intersession activities providing opportunities for advancement and enrichment, can help facilitate student learning and minimize time spent reviewing previously learned subject matter. (MLH)

One avenue being explored as a way to cut costs while maintaining the quality of programs and services is year-round education (YRE). In most cases, the known benefits and drawbacks of an existing component of traditional scheduling must be weighed against the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of YRE. The five articles reviewed in this…

This report by Maine's Task Force on Year-Round Education to the State Board of Education explores the feasibility of changing the school calendar--to distribute instructional time over more calendar months in order to enhance student learning. The new schedule could reduce teacher and student absenteeism, limit the loss of learning during summer…

A study examining the effects of alternative school calendars surveyed 254 principals and teachers from predominantly rural schools in Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee. Results revealed strong support for a calendar that rescheduled rather than added school days and that reduced summer vacation. Advantages included academic improvement, extra…

Advantages and examples of year-round education are discussed in this publication. Advantages include instructional benefits, relief from overcrowding, savings on operational and capital costs, increased teacher flexibility, improved attendance, and reduced vandalism. Guidelines for implementation, calendar design, and descriptions of various…

This document describes studies and other evidence supporting year-round education (YRE) in elementary and secondary schools. Included are six newspaper and journal clippings describing the benefits of YRE schools. The document also quotes from test and survey results that indicate that students who are enrolled in YRE programs learn and retain…