Advocates for extending the school year argue that more time in the classroom benefits students by increasing student achievement on standardized tests. Students have more time to develop their skills and teachers have more time to plan lessons. According to the "Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence," Japanese schoolchildren, who have a much longer school year than their American counterparts, consistently outperform American students in math and science. However, as the "Los Angeles Times" reports, schools in the U.S. have had mixed results when it comes to increasing student achievement. In schools that have adopted extended school years, some students have shown improvement while others have not. Some teachers have also reported fatigue.
Those in favor of extending the school year in the United States argue increasing student achievement also increases graduation rates. By focusing on preparing students for graduation, schools with extended years attempt to boost the likelihood that their students will finish prepared for college. According to an Education Sector Report, extended school programs like the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) add at least 50 percent more time to the average school schedule. "Time" reports that KIPP schools boast a 95 percent graduation rate for students who compete its middle school programs, no matter where they attend high school.
Researchers have shown that students from low-income families lose academic skills over the summer break in the school year. This loss has a cumulative effect, and by the time students reach high school, they can be far behind their peers. Extended school programs strive to reduce summer learning loss by keeping kids engaged and practicing their skills all year round.
While many school children in the United States attend summer camps, dance classes or other activities outside of school, not all children come from families that have the financial resources to provide them with extra learning opportunities. According to the National Education Association, children who do not have access to such programs and are left unsupervised when school is out are more likely to get bad grades and drop out of school. Extended school programs limit unsupervised time and can reduce rates of drug abuse, pregnancy and crime.