BRIGHTON, Mich. (WXYZ) — Should schools explore the idea of year-round schedules? That is the question parents in the Brighton Area Schools are being asked.
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Elizabeth Mosher says the question will be on a survey sent out to families and staff on Friday at the request of the school board. If the survey finds there is interest, a committee will be formed to look into the possibility.
So what is a balanced calendar? It varies. In one popular model students go to school for nine weeks, then get 3 weeks off.
“You don’t go more during the school year. You go 180 days, but it is spread out throughout the year. It is balanced,” said Mosher.
This could help prevent what is known as the “summer brain drain.” The National Association for Year Round learning says some students, often low-income students, fall behind over the summer because they don’t have as many learning opportunities. It leads over the time to gaping inequalities in learning. The idea is a shorter break decreases the impact.
The hard thing about transitioning to such a schedule is families have traditions built on the current schedule. It also could create athletic schedule conflicts.
