Year Round Education in the US

Paper Summary:

The paper comments that there is increasing popularity in the year-round school programs that are seen as an alternative to the traditional ten-month school calendar. This alternative is seen as necessary in order to match the educational superiority of economically leading countries such as Japan which have longer school days than that of the United States. The paper states that both educational experts and parents have very different views about this new concept. Debates have often been held concerning whether or not there is a need for this alternative school schedule. The paper relates that educational experts and parents that are in favor believe that there are academic benefits to be obtained because of the continuous schedule of learning. In addition, the paper states that there are also parents believe that it is psychologically healthy that children should have their normal summer break in order for them to get away from the demands of school. This paper gives an overview of what this new concept of a year-round school calendar or an extended year program is all about and enumerates both the positive and the negative aspects of this new alternative school schedule.

Outline:
Year-Round Education
Benefits of Year-round Education
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Students tend to forget a lot during long summer vacations and it is harder to instill the knowledge back to them after long vacations. Shorter vacations for students might be able to increase the students' retention rates of previously-learned knowledge. It was found out that most students would experience about 4% regression over the long summer vacation. The regression rate is almost the same for students with mild learning handicaps and regular students. A study also showed that the recoupment rate of students with mild handicaps is much slower than regular students. Regression is the loss of knowledge while recoupment is the re-installation or re-learning of the loss knowledge."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Johnson, K. (2000). Frequently asked questions about year-round education. San Diego, CA; National Association for Year-Round Education. pp. 2.
• Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning (February, 1999). Working Group on Alternative Calendars: Report to the Legislature. National Association for Year-Round Education (1999). Twenty-sixth reference directory of year-round education programs for the 1999-2000 school year. San Diego, CA. pp. 4 - 6.
• Stenvall, M. (2000). A checklist for success: A guide to implementing year-round schools. San Diego, CA: National Association for Year-Round Education. p. 1.
• Glines, D. (2000). Reflecting year-round education: Traditions and innovations. San Diego, CA: National Association for Year-Round Education. p. 2.
• Anton, P.E. (1995). Initial perceptions of alternate school year pilot at E.D. Feehan High School. Unpublished Master's Project, Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. p. 3 - 4

More papers on Year Round Education in the US:

• Research Paper # 105422 : "Year-Round Education"
• Term Paper # 150129 : "The Affordability of Higher Education in the US"
• Persuasive Essay # 110111 : "A Year-Round Education"

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