Summer vacation ends today for kids at Lamar Elementary school, which is the first public school in San Antonio to resume classes, and if it sounds early, it’s because the school is part of a pilot project to test a year-round calendar.. News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
“The goal is to reduce the summer learning loss by getting to a six week summer and reduce burnout by having more breaks throughout the year,” San Antonio School District Spokeswoman Leslie Price tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI.
Although year round schooling has been tried in other places in the country, this is the first time it’s been tested in San Antonio. Price says the so-called summer learning loss is real, and the district is taking a novel approach to helping end the problem of kids forgetting what they’ve been taught over summer break.
As part of the year-round calendar, kids will also get periodic breaks.
Price says; think of them as long weekends.
“It gives a little break for students and even teachers. They get a little rest and then come back excited about learning.”