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The Year-Round School Debate
There are several arguments made against changing the basic 180 day school year in any shape or form. Some argue that children need the time off to be “just kids.” In essence, however, the arguments against all-year schooling are as follows:
• There are no definitive results on studies supporting its benefits
• It does not matter whether children are on holiday a few days or many. They will require review of the material they have forgotten
• Schools may not be in a condition to handle the needs of children during the summer heat
• It is hard for a youth to find a job for shorter period and in off-season
• Certain summer programs may suffer such as camps of various types
• Specific after school programs may not have sufficient numbers if the school year alters. Those that do may be out-of-synch with the performance and competitive year
• School maintenance bills will rise
• The administrative work load of teachers will increase
• Difficulty of co-ordination may exist in families with children in two different forms of year-round schooling
There is no conclusive data on whether a year-round system works as effectively as the traditional school year. The academic data is too scattered. The efficiency rates on the subject also vary. If an actual all-year round system with increased days spent in the classroom was implemented, it would need to be tracked over a period of years to see whether it would produce similar inconclusive results.
http://www.schoolmoney.org/the-year-round-school-debate/