The Atlantic – Laura McKenna
“An array of political and education leaders, including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, have championed a longer school year…A large body of evidence suggests that the 12-week hiatus can have a lasting negative impact on kids’ educational outcomes. “The Summer Slide” results in several lost months of reading and math skills, particularly among children who come from lower-income households…Some districts, hoping to avoid the summer slide, have been experimenting with novel year-round calendars…There is no question that families need help in the summer. While there isn’t the political will to increase the number of traditional classroom days, creative policy-making could provide new options for summer instruction.”(more)