York Prep Considers Benefits of Longer School Years

Online, August 17, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Although schools have built their calendars around the usual 180-day schedule, many districts across America are lengthening their school years to create solid learning initiatives. According to a recent New York Times article, such decisions have been a matter of controversy among many school systems across the country. Some believe that the extended school year, typically 200 days, will provide students with a consistent learning schedule; supporters state that these decisions are necessary to improve test scores that have weakened in recent years. However, others feel that the extension is one that only adds more academic pressure to students and takes away from the often-treasured summer break. Having formed solid education models of its own, New York private school, York Prep explains why longer school years can benefit students.

Ronald Stewart, York Prep Headmaster, notes that longer school years can drastically improve the learning gap between rich and poor students. Stewart explains, "Studies have repeatedly shown that students from disadvantaged homes lose out to their peers in the lack of educational growth they make over the long summer vacation. While they move together during the school year, it is the summer months when the poorer students stagnate while others grow from their enriched summer experience. It is specifically for these under-privileged students that schools and communities need to provide true learning opportunities in the summer months."

However, the article notes that many fear that longer school years-already adopted by 170 schools-will create an additional set of problems. From budget concerns to how teachers will use the time, many are awaiting for positive results to make sure that the additional period results in high-quality education. Others feel that the entire approach will not prove effective and that institutions should look at other ways to provide students with enrichment opportunities.

For York Prep , continuous education is a model that has paid off for its students who are provided with a diverse set of opportunities. However, that instruction does not necessarily have to come from a longer school year. Ronald Stewart notes that the extended school year shows that officials are at least searching for a way to improve education-a move that should be respected by all educators. He concludes, "Until some form of education is made available year-round, the gap between students from poor and wealthy backgrounds will continue to widen. Summer is the time when either the school year needs to expand for the poorer students or some alternative calendar of learning must be offered."

ABOUT:

York Prep, a private school, was founded by Ronald and Jayme Stewart. Located in New York City's Upper West Side, York Prep offers educational resources to students in grades six through 12. Currently, York Prep has 340 enrolled students, to whom it provides individualized curriculum and course offerings. To learn more, visit yorkprep.org.