Dive Brief:
- Schools in Maryland are considering cutting spring break to accommodate a school calendar dictated by Gov. Larry Hogan that would require a start after Labor Day, an end by June 15 and flexibility to respond to snow days.
- The Washington Post reports all but one Maryland school district started classes in August this year, and some were considering starting even earlier in 2017 to give students more time to prepare for standardized tests.
- While some parents look forward to the opportunity for one more family vacation each year, others worry about finding child care through the beginning of September, and educators are concerned the longer break will increase summer learning loss.
Dive Insight:
Maryland is not the only state looking for longer summers to spur the economy. The tourism industry in North Carolina pushed hard this year to prohibit year-round school calendars, arguing it prevents the types of vacations families plan during long summer breaks. That change made it into a draft budget in June, but an outcry from schools and families effectively shelved the proposal for now.
Already schools have to deal with the detrimental effects of summer slide, especially among low-income student populations that do not have access to enrichment activities over the summer that might help them maintain some of their literacy skills. Pittsburgh Public Schools is among the districts running summer academies for students, giving them opportunities to have fun while also reinforcing important academic subjects. These types of activities help students readjust more quickly to school in the fall and perform better in their classes.