Bozeman schools tackle tough issue: Is it time to change the school calendar?

Time, like money, is a precious commodity in America’s classrooms.

That’s why some national school reformers have been pushing ideas to increase students’ time in school as a way to boost student learning.

The Bozeman School Board has created a 45-member Calendar Task Force to investigate whether the traditional school calendar — with its long summer break — should be updated to better prepare kids for the 21st century.

GAIL SCHONTZLER, Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/education/article_4063716a-3f3b-11e1-837c-0019bb2963f4.html

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Year-round schools? Longer school days? Four-day weeks?

“It’s absolutely phenomenal for student learning,” Hedgepeth said in a phone interview.

For students in Vail, Ariz., school starts on July 18, six weeks earlier than for kids in Bozeman.

Vail, a fast-growing suburb on the edge of Tucson, has used a “modified year-round” school calendar since 2003, and it has been quite successful, said Debbie Hedgepeth, assistant superintendent of curriculum for the Vail School District.

GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/education/article_b87ce2e8-3f41-11e1-85bc-001871e3ce6c.html

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Time in school: How does the U.S. compare? http://matr.net/article-48206.html