Is Year-Round Schooling Better for Students and Teachers?

For many students and their families, summer is sacrosanct — a nice long break from school to recharge and refresh. But students in about 4 percent of public schools in the U.S. will still be hard at work over part of the summer. They attend schools that operate on a year-round schedule. Supporters of year-round schools say they can boost achievement, especially for low-income students who need school meals and may not have any enrichment programs over summer break. The jury is still out on that question, but students, teachers, and parents at Sycamore Elementary in Holt, Mich., have embraced the schedule. As Superintendent David Hornak says, “Once you live it, you love it.” (July 24, 2018)