Year Round Education

5 Pages 1220 Words

Year-Round Education
Thesis statement
Teachers, administrators, students, and parents should consider all of the pros and cons of year-round education and base school calendar decisions on the plan that gives students the best opportunity to be academically successful.
I. There are possibly cost and academic advantages of two plans of year-round education.
A. There are two basic plans of year-round education.
B. Cost of year round education differs from the traditional calendar.
C. There are possible academic advantages of year-round education.
II. The differing plans of YRE are single-track and multi-track.
A. The single track plan (ST) puts all students on the same calendar.
B. Multiple-track (MT) puts groups of students on different calendars.
C. 45-15, 60-20, 60-15 and 90-30 plans work in ST or MT plans.
III. The cost effects of YRE are debatable.
A. Increased cost is the norm.
B. YRE affects student jobs and summer activities.
IV. The academic impact of YRE is questionable.
A. YRE requires curriculum adjustments.
B. Does YRE improve standardized test scores and basic studies?

There are two major types of year-round education. They are single track and multi track. “Single track programs provide for the entire student body and staff to follow the same school calendar. Multi track programs divide students and teachers into groups and assign each to one of several tracks with staggered instructional blocks and vacation periods” (Palmer/Bemis). Administrators and politicians who are in favor of year-round education partially support their feelings on the probability of money savings. Very little evidence supports this position. There are also supporters of year-round education who feel that the plan gives students a better opportunity to be more successful academically.
Both single-track and multi-track approaches to year-round education meet the required 180 days of instruction for students. The differ...