One of the biggest advantages to year-round kindergarten is that students retain more of the knowledge they learn in school. During the summer break in traditional schools, the New York State Board of Regents estimates that students lose at least 27 percent of the information that was taught that school year. Year-round schools advocates claim that this knowledge loss is lessened when the students have shorter summer vacations. Because of the shorter, but more frequent, breaks, students also have more opportunities for tutoring or other special instruction.
Because teachers in year-round schools do not have to spend time re-teaching materials, advocates claim that year-round students learn more information over the course of their school career. In traditional schools, the first month or two of the new school year are spent reviewing the information that was taught the previous year. Since students in year-round schools do not have three-month-long breaks, there is not as much of a need to review material that was previously learned, so new subjects can be introduced more rapidly. This is especially important in kindergarten, where students are learning the basics that will carry them through their academic career, including reading and writing.
Advocates for year-round school say that the adjusted calendar, with longer breaks spread throughout the year, prevents learning burnout in both students and teachers. This is especially true in the kindergarten classroom, where many students are experiencing a school setting for the first time. By giving students and teachers shorter, more frequent breaks, the burnout feeling is lessened, according to K12 Academics. The advocates go on to say that teachers and students are all better in their respective duties when not experiencing burnout.
The year-round school calendar gives students the opportunity to stay involved in school activities most of the year. Traditionally, sports and groups like Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts take breaks during the summer vacation, stopping the learning process for students. If students are actively involved in the activity year-round, they are more likely to stick with the activity longer. After-school activities, especially sports, can help children avoid the "couch potato syndrome," according to K12 Academics. By keeping children involved in activities, they will spend less time watching television and playing video games. Kindergarten students will have more opportunities if after-school activities run year-round.