A trio of Florida school districts are piloting year-round curriculum in an effort to curb summer learning loss — and state education bosses are considering a permanent shift in all schools statewide if the program is successful.
Select campuses in Marion, Alachua and Brevard Counties have been tapped by lawmakers to make the switch for the next five years to evaluate the results, according to the Ocala Star Banner.
The Florida Department of Education will monitor the impact and make recommendations to Governor Ron DeSantis and lawmakers regarding possible expansion beyond the 2028-2029 academic year.
Alachua officials said the program hopes to improve academic performance, improve student behavior and forge stronger bonds with staff.
The year-round format also aims to limit learning loss during the summer months and increase retention.
“As a former teacher and principal, I saw so many students lose so much academically over the summer,” Superintendent Shane Andrew wrote on the district’s website. “I am excited about the great potential of this program to prepare students at Metcalfe and Rawlings [elementary schools] with the consistent support they need to continue learning throughout the year.”
Florida education chief Manny Diaz and his agency will evaluate the results of the pilot. AP
Alachua’s new format will drastically shorten summer break, where students typically have 10 weeks off.
A local educator said he supports the plan, and said local parents are also wary of the prospect of a longer school year.
“This is an untapped possibility, and maybe this is what we need all along,” he told the outlet “Some of our students already come to summer school, so why not make year-round teaching part of the educational experience and fabric here at the School Low Rawlings?”
Children will still attend 180 days of school, but breaks will be interspersed throughout the year rather than concentrated in the summer.
The Florida DOE will monitor the impact and make recommendations to Governor Ron DeSantis. Getty Images
The pilot will not affect teacher pay, officials said.
Alachua families will be able to opt out of the year-round format.
Some parents in Brevard County have expressed skepticism about the switch, arguing that different schedules for elementary and middle school students could wreak havoc on their plans, according to Florida Today.
Learning loss is a major concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many children have not set foot in a classroom for over a year.
The latest test scores show declines in reading and math, with some observers concerned about continuing learning deficits.
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