Schools fail to develop students' unique capabilities mainly because of large-group instruction limitations. Mutual Instruction (MI), a comprehensive peer assistance program involving all students in cross-age tutoring and counseling, is a sound and practical approach to restructuring the conventional lock-step, assembly-line program. Teaching--or…

This fastback examines the instructional and administrative benefits of year-round education and describes schools currently operating on a year-round schedule. Instructional benefits of year-round education for gifted, average, and remedial students are cited in a brief introductory article. Other benefits, discussed in more detail, include…

Mesa Verde High School was constructed in 1974 and is the last high school built in the San Juan (California) Unified District. It serves students in grades 9 through 12 and has an open enrollment policy. Mesa Verde operates on a year-round schedule with students divided into three tracks. Basically, each track is in session for 9 weeks and then…

This paper suggests that school systems can develop and implement a plan to keep schools operating to the advantage of students, staff, and community despite declining enrollment. In arguing against the closing of schools, this paper provides quotes from a survey and summary statements from school officials to show that closings do not save school…

The School Board of Virginia Beach has conducted a two-year pilot program focusing on elementary school students who attend school 45 days and break 15 days year round. Four principal questions were proposed and researched by various independent agencies: (1) What effect does the 45-15 cycled-attendance year-round operation have on pupil…

In addition to the external pressures for a change in the school year, there are also pressures within the field of education that year-round schools may alleviate. In the 1960's, Prince William County faced the serious problem of rapid population growth, and today the school population continues to increase. In 1970, after considering alternative…

Evaluating the 2nd-year K-3 bilingual program in 4 elementary schools, this document assessed (1) the increase in achievement level of Spanish-speaking pupils through use of a sustained K-3 program; (2) the student achievement level between bilingual and monolingual programs; (3) the involvement of Spanish-speaking parents as advisors and…

The Utica Community School District was one of several school districts in Michigan to receive a second grant from the State Legislature to continue research and communications on the year-round school concept during the 1970-71 fiscal year. This communications phase was designed to gather, investigate, analyze, and disseminate information…

This report is an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the literature and research findings related to the rescheduled school year with the aim of presenting information and research data about the major extended school year designs and the impact of these designs on a school system. The first chapter considers the reasons why extended school…

While there appears to be widespread agreement that schools need to use time more effectively to improve learning opportunities, education research is needed on the cost and results of using time differently. Presents a cost-simulation model to determine the relative costs of a year-round program. (MLF)

This paper reviews research literature on year-round schools (YRS) for the British Columbia Ministry of Education. The literature review is organized around the goals of the British Columbia Ministry of Education: (1) impact on student in terms of academic achievement, attitudes, and behavior; (2) costs and benefits; (3) facility use; (4) impact…

This chapter of "The Best of the Best of ERIC," Volume 2, contains 17 summaries of documents and journals on community schools, all of which are indexed in either "Resources in Education" or "Current Index to Journals in Education." The materials included deal with various aspects of the topic, such as facilities for community schools, training…

This survey summarizes, in tabular form, the latest reports of year-round education activities in the United States as supplied by State and outlying district education agencies. Tables cover the period July 1, 1973 through February 1, 1974. Data reported include the number of operational programs and study/planning activities in each State, the…

This case history of one community's study (conducted from 1969 to 1972) to determine if year-round education was feasible for the community explains the background for the study, how the study of the concept was conducted and the citizenry informed, and presents several of the various surveys administered. (Author/MLF)

This paper emphasizes that one of the main concerns in year-round education is the effect upon the social, emotional, physical, and psychological development of children. Alteration of the school calendar, and the curricular innovations that tend to piggy-back year-round programs, may well provide the impetus for individualizing and humanizing…