Modified School Year Or Traditional For Schools?

Schools in Arizona have a few different schedules for schools. Depending on the district your school is in will determine the type of schedule your school will have.

Calendar Choices

Some districts have gone with a modified school year. Not necessarily the traditional year round but rather more modified with extra breaks and a shorter summer. This plan gives the children about 8 weeks off during the summer months and 2 weeks off with a fall break in October then the normal 2 week holiday break and 2 weeks for a spring break rather than the more traditional one week off. Other schools have stayed with the more traditional plan but have modified a little giving a week in October for a shorter fall break. Chandler district has adopted the modified plan but not the Gilbert district which is so close to Chandler.

Modified Calendars

So what are the benefits of this modified plan? Everyone will have their own opinions but some of the more popular ones are that teachers will say that with a shorter summer break children retain more of what they learned the previous year so they spend less time having to go over the previous year's lessons before moving on.

Other positive reasons for this modified school year echoed by some parents would be that the Arizona summers are extremely hot and the kids just don't have enough choices to get outside and stay active so many children tend to stay in where it is cooler and play video games and watch television. Not the best for our children. Giving a nice break in October also allows for some cooler months to take a trip, a less busy and more comfortable time to visit National Parks, amusements parks or the beach. It also breaks up the school year so the kids don't get so tired of the long weeks without a break. Parents will also say that children are anxious to return to school and their activities and friends at school and having more than 8 weeks off is simply too long.

Traditional Calendars

On the other end of the spectrum some parents find it more difficult to find day care for their children on breaks if both parents work full time. There are also those that simply prefer the traditional school year. There is no concrete proof of any real benefits to the shorter summer. How do the teachers feel? Many like the breaks in between as they also need a relief from the day to day schedule with anxious children who are ready for a much needed break where others who find temporary work during the summer months prefer to have the longer summer to take on those jobs or schooling.

Either way, families seem to have adapted well no matter what plan their school has adopted and scores Arizona schools still rank above the national average. You may want to chose where you live if this is a deciding factor for you and your family.