When my dh and I first went to Florida in 90 we went in the last few days of July to the first few days in August.

I met a grandmother down there that said her grandchildren were doing an experimental school rotation, not the usually Sept through first of June.

This school went year around and had several "spots" where they would take 3 weeks off at a time. I found it very interesting and wondered if any places still do this (remember this was 1990 when I spoke to this woman).

Here in PA, I don't know of any school that does this, most schools do the Sept - through first few days of June.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 09:25 am:

Marg, to my knowledge, no schools in Louisiana have tried the *year round* system, but I have friends in FL, and they were on that system. However, if I'm not mistaken, it's not a mandatory state-wide thing, and was put up to vote in each district. A friend's child was on that system for one or two years, and apparently the majority of the parents/teachers in her district were not happy with that and they reverted back to the *normal* school year with summers off.

By Debbie on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 09:35 am:

When we lived back in Texas, in the mid-90's, there were schools that were trialing the year round system. However, like in Karen's area, they did not go over well and after a few years they stopped it.

By Mommyathome on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 10:41 am:

Our state is BIG on year round schools. Luckily, it hasn't came to our area yet. All of our relatives "up north" are on year round. One major downfall is if you have several kids in different schools. For instance you have a grade schooler, a middle schooler and a hig schooler......they may all be on a different "track" and there vacation time will not match up with the others. My brother runs into this problem with his girls. They can never plan vacation time due to everyones mixed up schedules. Also, their elementary is on year round and their jr. high is not.
There have been lots of year round schools in our state going back before I graduated. ('95)

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 10:57 am:

I have a friend in CA whose kids attend year round school. She says it's a necessity because the schools don't have the capacity to handle the entire student population at once. She explained how it works but I don't remember all the details. They're basically in school for so many weeks and then out of school for so many weeks throughout the year. I don't think I'd care for it, and especially not as a teacher. What a nightmare for working parents concerning child care. I love summer vacation too much!

By Insaneusmcwife on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 11:32 am:

My nephew is in a year round school. It works really well for him. They usually have a intersession that he attends. Its kind of like a summer school. It helps to keep him focused. If you are low income and working you don't have to pay for it. There is also the boys and girls club that is open all day during intersession. I'm not sure of the prices but that is also available to the parents who work.

By Cat on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 11:33 am:

We're on what's called a modified year round schedule. Our district only gets 2 full months off in the summer instead of the usual 2 1/2 or 3. They start school the first week of August and go to the end of May, getting all of June and July off. They also get two weeks off in October, three weeks for Christmas and New Year, two weeks for spring break and it seems every time we turn around they're getting a 3 or 4 day weekend. It works out great for some and not so great for others (like working parents that have to find childcare for a week or two here and there). For us it's great. Robin really needs the breaks. Up towards Denver I know some of the districts do a year round system. There's a momsview member up that way that could tell you more if she sees this. A guy in dh's office just moved from California last summer and they were year round where they came from. They moved here in September and his son was already 3 months into the school year. It's like everything else--it has it's advantages and disadvantages. I do like getting the full two months off for "Summer Break". I couldn't imagine not having that for my kids. Makes for some great memories.

By Mommmie on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 11:50 am:

I think year round school is a way to deal with over crowding. Kids go 6 weeks then are off for 3 weeks, year round. There are other kids who track differently so when one group is off there are 2 other groups there. So at any one time two-thirds of the school are in attendance - bec that's all they have room for.

A few school in Dallas tried it for a few years but they just went back to traditional (our traditional is early to mid Aug to late May). It was too hard on families who had kids in and out of school at different times.

I heard teachers liked it bec the kids "lost" less since they didn't take a long summer break.

By Sassy on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 03:53 pm:

My nephew lives in Hampton, Virginia and attends year around school.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 04:31 pm:

My kids have always had a August/September to June schedule. I don't think they have any plans to change it anytime soon. I like summer vacation, too.