Pros & Cons to Modifying School Calendars

The issue of modifying school calendars causes tremendous division between those who feel that the traditional school calendar allows children to enjoy a long summer break and those who feel a more balanced, year-round schedule would allow for more restful breaks throughout the year. While opinions vary widely, both traditional and modified calendars have distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Breaks Throughout the Year

Generally, schools that modify their schedules move to a year-round cycle of several months in class followed by a week or two off, the National Education Association reports. Even though a modified, year-round schedule often causes students to spend up to 20 more days in school per year, as NBC News reports, students still enjoy more frequent breaks throughout the year. Others might find the frequent breaks to be disruptive to learning. Some parents might struggle to find childcare during the short breaks common in a modified school calendar, according to Scholastic.

Effects on Learning

It might be difficult for low-income students to access academic help such as tutoring or enrichment programs in a traditional school calendar, especially during a long summer break, according to the California Department of Education. Such at-risk students might have better access to such programs in a modified school calendar because they're in class more frequently. However, some students struggle no matter what schedule is used because of learning disabilities, lack of interest or personal family problems. A modified calendar does not fix such problems or necessarily cause academic scores to increase, as Ohio State researchers report.

Financial Concerns

The traditional school calendar includes a lengthy summer break, allowing older students time to get a summer job. A modified calendar might not provide that same opportunity because students are only available to work for a short period of time, Scholastic states. Year-round school calendars tend to be more expensive because of the cost of buses and other costs associated with being in school more often, according to Randy Green, school superintendent in Kentucky, quoted in an NBC News article.

Teachers and Students

Sick or exhausted students or teachers might be forced to miss valuable class time in a traditional school calendar. In a modified school calendar, there might be more opportunities for students, teachers and staff to rest, recharge and recuperate. However, a modified calendar can be detrimental to those students and teachers who prefer a long summer break to get away from the stresses of school or for those who travel with family in the summer.