Should Midlands school districts switch to a year-round calendar? Vote in our poll
Earlier this year, the Richland 1 school board considered making some big changes to its school calendar.
It considered shifting from a 10-week summer vacation to a six-week break and bringing students back to school in late July. The modified calendar, often referred to as “year-round school,” would give students more consistent classroom time and, advocates believe, could help prevent learning loss that happens during the long summer vacation.
The district postponed the decision, but the modified schedule is still being considered for the 2024-25 school year. If Richland 1 had made the leap, they wouldn’t have been alone.
Nearly two dozen South Carolina school districts are operating on a “modified” schedule for the 2022-23 school year, according to a calendar provided by the state’s education department. In most cases, that means students are starting school in early August and getting shorter summer vacations but more breaks throughout the year. Most states, including South Carolina, require students to be in school for 180 days, but districts have flexibility to determine when those days are.
A 2020 Education Week article outlined pros and cons of adopting a year-round or modified schedule.
The pros included more face time between teachers and students, which could boost morale and connection, as well as less learning loss and the chance to bridge performance gaps between groups of students.
The cons included disruption to long-held routines, limited summer job opportunities for students and a potential increase in transportation costs.
We want to hear from you. Do you think Midlands school districts should switch to a year-round calendar? Respond to our poll and share your thoughts.
