Year-Round Schools

As the majority of American students are dusting off their backpacks, listening to their “iPods,” and thinking about a new school year, others have been sitting in classes for much of the summer. It is not that these students have to go to summer school. Rather, they attend schools that have moved to a year-round schedule, another example of a reform that reflects how boards and legislatures are exercising their legal control over public education. This entry reviews the history of year-round education and considers the advantages and disadvantages of such a schedule.

The term year-round schooling is misleading in that it suggests an end to summer traditions such as summer camps or beach vacations. In reality, students in most U.S. year-round school systems spend about ...