A study printed in "The Review of Educational Research" found that year-round schooling does not provide a significant increase in academic performance. Miami School Board Vice-Chairman Marta Perez offers one theory for these findings: teachers and students are tired at the end of the day, and this weakens student motivation.
Summer vacation is one of the benefits of childhood. After 180 days of school, kids, parents and teachers seek rest and relaxation; however, summer break is not simply a time to vegetate. Many children spend their summers completing social, professional and philanthropic activities that provide a different type of education. These activities are crucial to personal development, but a child sequestered in the classroom on a year-round basis is denied these opportunities that are unique to summer break. Students who lose these opportunities may lose their patience with the school system.
Any shakeup in an accepted system causes feelings of frustration and uncertainty. A study by the University of Minnesota points out that parents may experience the frustration of interrupted schedules. Families that want to schedule vacations must plan for days that conflict with not just working parents' days off, but also students' days off. A school district may have to contend with opposition from parents and children.
An article in "Education Week" magazine points out that at-risk students improve academically by attending school on a 12-month rather than a nine or 10-month basis. This increase in learning creates a boost in confidence, which is crucial to at-risk students.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan believes that the school year is too short and does not promote a competitive learning environment comparable to those of other countries. Duncan states "I want our children to be able to compete with the best in India and China. And simply put, in other countries they are spending more time in school than we do here. And I think that hurts our children."
Proponents of year-round schooling remind skeptics that a 12-month school year is not without breaks. Instead of a long two- to three-month summer break, year-round schools schedule shorter, two- to five-week breaks after every eight- to 10-week period. These shorter breaks provide students with more frequent relief from rigorous studies and are more likely to help them stay energized and ready to learn.