The pros and cons of year-round schools have been debated in this country for years. In Virginia, the possibility of year-round schools just took a step closer to reality.
House Joint Resolution 646, sponsored by Del. Steve Landes (R-25th House), vice chairman of the Education Committee, unanimously passed the Virginia House of Delegates, and must now go to the State Senate for passage. The study directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct a two-year study on the efficiency of year-round schools by reviewing educational systems locally, nationally, and abroad that have already implemented them. The study would also evaluate instructional costs, transportation and special education services, and the need for additional classroom teachers, staff, and support services.
Happy with its passage, Landes stated, “I was thrilled to see House Joint Resolution 646 pass the House. If the Virginia Senate supports this measure, I believe this could be the foundation to reforming Virginia’s educational system to help us regain our competitive edge.” A hand full of schools in the Commonwealth already employ the year-round schedule.
Many studies have been conducted throughout the years that have addressed the pros and cons of year-round schools. A year-round calendar is still made up of the traditional 180 instructional days but they are arranged differently with more short breaks throughout the year instead of a long summer vacation. Some educators believe students retain more of what they learn by removing the long break. However, studies do not necessarily back that thinking.
There are studies that show year-round students don’t learn more than their peers. In 2007, Paul von Hippel, research statistician at Ohio State, noted in a Science Daily article, “We found that students in year-round schools learn more during the summer, when others are on vacation, but they seem to learn less than other children during the rest of the year.” The article went on to say:
“The results don’t support that claim,” von Hippel said.
Summer vacations, long a family tradition as well as a time of year eagerly anticipated by students, would be something of the past under a year-round school.
In 1994, Dr. Leo Wisenbender of the Los Angeles Unified Program noted, “It is absurd to suggest that children aren’t learning during the summer. It’s a different type of learning, which simply is not tested.”
Indeed, there is much to be said for the carefree, unstructured days of summer when children have more freedom to explore the outdoors, travel, visit with family and friends in other cultures, or spend the extra time reading, something that may not be possible in the homework-packed days of school. Teenagers find summer jobs and many employers, such as pools and amusement parks, depend on teens.
Some educators want to see American children on par with those in other countries and feel the year-round school year would make them more competitive. According to CNN, the Obama administration’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan is pushing the idea:
There are literally dozens of pros and cons on this issue, and some school systems have actually tried it and then returned to a traditional school calendar including the Salt Lake City public schools that just this month made the decision to abandon the year-round schedule for a variety of reasons.
If the bill passes in the Virginia legislature, there will be much to study and hopefully, will include input from parents and teachers who will be directly impacted by whatever decision is made by those in Richmond.
