BARDSTOWN STUDY PROCESS QUESTION AND ANSWERS

1.  What is Year Round Education?

Year-Round Education is a calendar approach which reorganizes the traditional 175 day school year so that the standard instruction period is distributed throughout the school year with regularly scheduled breaks or vacations interspersed rather than the nine months on and three months off calendar.  In other words, educational instruction and vacation are organized into smaller segments and spaced throughout the year for more continuous learning and more frequent breaks.

2.  Why shouldn't we continue with the Traditional calendar?

"Although society has not yet been highly critical of the traditional nine-month school calendar, parents need to take a closer look at it.  The traditional calendar is based on the outdated agricultural model designed to allow children to help on farms and ranches during the summer months.  This agricultural calendar has been passed down from generation to generation until it has become a deeply embedded tradition. Tradition is important, but at a time when our children need every advantage to compete in a world-class economy, perhaps we should take a closer look at this tradition.  Because of tradition, parents have not critically looked at some of the outcomes of the traditional calendar: a long summer vacation with "nothing to do" for many children; long periods in school without a scheduled break; a calendar with vacations that may or may not coincide with many parents' jobs or professions (making summer vacations difficult); and the loss of acquired knowledge over summer vacation has generated long periods when youth have been unsupervised, unemployed, and unoccupied.

The calendar allows a more natural learning process by following the way people learn: continuously.  Think about the following rhetorical question asked by Dr. Charles Ballinger, Executive Director of the National Association for Year-Round Education in his annual call for consideration of YRE at the Association's conferences: "If year-round education were the traditional school calendar, and had been for over 100 years, and if someone were to suggest a "new" calendar whereby students would be exempt from instruction for up to three months at a time,  would the American public allow, or even consider, such a scheme?" "

3.  What is brief history of Year Round Education?

School districts across the United States have been involved in year-round schools since the mid-nineteenth century.  The number of year-round schools has fluctuated during the past 60 years relative to economic conditions and enrollment changes.  Year-round education, as a movement, experienced rapid growth in the early 1970s, plateaued in the middle 1970s, and has grown steadily since the 1980s.  Growth in 1991-92 represents the thirteenth straight year of increased year-round activity.  (according to Charles Ballinger, Executive Secretary of the National Association for Year Round Education) Year round calendars for schools are now operating in 38 states and involve about 1.6 million students (about 3 1/2% of all school age children). The movement has doubled nationwide in just the past five years.

4.  Why is YRE being considered for the Bardstown City Schools?

The principal advantage of YRE for Bardstown City Schools is to increase student academic achievement through continuous learning, reduction of student frustration and failure by providing timely remediation, elimination of student review time, increasing student and teacher attendance, and reduction of student and teacher burnout.  The Bardstown City School District is considering YRE because studies have shown that there is less regression which would cause for less review time.  Also, we are a nation educationally at-risk compared to other nations.  If we are to remain competitive, we must be educated equally.  Educationally, no disadvantages to year round education have been found to exist.

5.  How would Year Round Education be implemented in the Bardstown City Schools?

The Committee on Year-Round Education was charged by the Board of Education to investigate the possibility of moving the Bardstown School District to a year-round calendar.  At the end of our investigation the committee is to report to the Board of Education one of three possible recommendations:
1)  Year round education should not be implemented in our school system in the
      foreseeable future.

2)  Year round education should be implemented in our school system, but not in the 1995-96 school year.  A more appropriate target date would be _______.

3)  Year round education should be implemented in our school system in the  1995-96 school year with the understanding that this new school calendar is  on a three year trial basis.  The issue of continuing a year-round calendar  beyond three years will be studied and recommendations made during its third  year of operation.

6.  What are the ways that the community is being consulted on the issue of YRE?

Small and large group community meetings, informational letters, radio, newspaper articles, and community response forms.

7. What will be possible additional cost to taxpayers?

No additional costs are anticipated.

8. Is YRE related to Kentucky Education Reform?

No.

9.  What might be the impact of YRE on the community?

Local business places would notice a change in business patterns, particularly those catering to young people.  Traffic patterns would also change.  Congestion would decrease at the times the Bardstown Schools would be not meeting...and increase somewhat during the summer weeks when school would be in session.  A business using student help would still have a pool of labor from other schools, and would also have Bardstown students available at a time when other students would not be able to work.

10.  How does Year Round Education affect student achievement?

Student achievement in math, reading, and language arts should increase with the implementation of Year Round Education.  Because Year Round Education provides continuous learning opportunities, students will not need to spend school time reviewing in September information that was learned in June; thus, time will be spent on new learning rather than remediation.  Timely remediation occurring during the intersessions will reduce student frustration, eliminate the sense of "failure", and provide student success.  (Salt Lake City, Utah; San Diego, California; Orlando, Florida; West Carrollton, Ohio; Vincent,
Alabama).

11.  What do we call the breaks that are between school sessions?

They are called "intersessions".

12.  What programs will be offered to students during the intersessions?

In addition to being a break from school, the intersessions provide extra schooling for students who are falling behind in school, and optional enrichment opportunities.  At-risk students will be given the opportunity for remedial work for up to two weeks, thereby helping them stay on schedule with their classmates.  This allows teachers to spend more in-class time on new material for all students, once school is back in session.  Enrichment programs will allow students to explore areas not normally
offered as a regular part of the school program.

13.  How might YRE affect discipline referrals?

Nearly all of our research shows fewer student discipline problems and fewer discipline referrals in year-round schools.  Students are reported to have an improved attitude toward school.  (Oxnard,  California; Vincent, Alabama; San Diego, California; Orange County, Florida; West Carrollton, Ohio; Salt Lake City, Utah).

14. What changes may occur on student and teacher attendance?

Most year-round education districts report that both teacher and student attendance has improved in those schools where the year-round schedule has been implemented.  The California cities of San Diego, Oakland, and Oxnard, and Houston, Texas, all report higher attendance figures in their year-round schools than in their September-June schools.  (Vincent, Alabama; Orange County, Florida; West Carrollton, Ohio; Salt Lake City, Utah).

15. What adjustments will teachers have to make with YRE?

Year Round Education could create problems for staff members working on advanced certification, Masters or Rank I, during the summer; fewer hours would be attainable in the summer.  Local universities have been contacted and indicate a willingness to be flexible in working with teachers of the Bardstown City School District.  A loss of summer grant programs and seminars to some teachers could also affect professional development.  Teachers with young children may find it difficult to arrange for child care during the more frequent vacation periods.  Summer job opportunities for teachers may be lost which could cause an adjustment in their financial situation. Teachers who have previously worked full time during the extended summer vacation will need to schedule work hours during the
intersessions or after school hours.  However, teachers could teach intersession classes or substitute for other school districts that remain on a traditional school calendar.

16. Will YRE affect school athletics and other extra-curricular activities?

Year round schools continue to provide academic competitions, sports, band, drama, journalism, and other existing activities.  Students who are on vacation when season activities are taking place can still participate.  In fact, being on vacation may allow them to devote more time to the activity, if they wish.

17.  What effects will Year Round Education have on traditional summer activities?

Any summer activities scheduled during the daytime when school is in session will be affected.  Swim team practice, tennis, summer camp, band camp, or any other activities will need to be rescheduled to occur after school hours or during the shorter summer intersession period.  If the activity is scheduled after school hours while school is in session, the effect would be on school preparation such as
homework or school projects.  School hours could be adjusted to begin and end early (i.e. begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.)

18.  How could YRE affect student employment opportunities?

Employment while school is in session would need to occur after school hours and on the weekends.  Students could work throughout the year on weekends, after school, and during the intersessions.