Describes the variations of year-round education (YRE) plans being used across the country including the 45-15 plan, and the 60-20 plan used by the Oxnard School District (CA). Discusses the school design needs of YRE programming and the structural planning involved in Oxnard's Christa McAuliffe Elementary School. (MD)

A combination class is formed when students from two adjacent grades are placed in one classroom under the supervision of one teacher. Two recent studies indicate that combination classes may contribute to lower student achievement in multitrack year-round schools. (eight references) (MLF)

Eight high schools in three California school districts are on multitrack year-round schedules. Interviews with personnel from these schools and from two districts considering a year-round schedule highlight the effect of year-round schedules on student learning, management issues, extracurricular activities, and school culture. (MLF)

Findings from a study of San Diego (California) elementary schools indicate that students in year-round schools outperformed those in traditional schools in the degree of achievement in reading, language, and math test scores. (MLF)

The growth of year-round education will provide opportunities for 12-month learning opportunities through voluntary magnet-style programs in many communities. (MLF)

Studies suggest that disadvantaged and migrant students suffer more from retention losses during nonschooling time. Strategies to reduce forgetting include providing year-round schools, shifting supplementary education services to nonschool periods, and reshaping the curriculum to focus on complex and meaningful tasks. (MLF)

Discusses year-round education (YRE) as a voluntary philosophical orientation within school districts. Presents a group of common organizational patterns that schools throughout the nation have successfully developed when implementing voluntary YRE programs. Includes discussion of the academic and scheduling benefits of YRE programs. (MD)

The September-June calendar makes little sense instructionally or academically, as it was designed for the agricultural economy of the early 1800s. This article suggests that year-round education, originally a response to overcrowding, can benefit students' learning process, increase attendance, and reduce vandalism and instructional costs per…

Presents strategies for solving 13 common personnel problems that frequently emerge with the implementation of year-round schools. Issues focus on staffing and working conditions. (MLF)

Year-round education is an essential component of California public education. Through creative calendar planning, space utilization is being increased by 25 to 50 percent, depending on the selected configuration. Although growth remains the driving force, there is increasing acceptance of the learning, employment, and lifestyle benefits of…

Confronting low student performance, staff at a central California elementary school tackled curriculum-alignment problems; identified available instructional, support, information, and human-resource processes; and dealt with the language issue. The school's "Student Portfolio and Assessment System" helped teachers discover feasible…

Poses six questions for administrators considering a year-round, multitrack school schedule. Discusses probable constraints concerning implementation levels, class organization, staff preparation, and impact on plant maintenance, summer school programs, and community relations. Classroom sharing and summer school present special difficulties;…

Growth in student enrollment is a statewide phenomenon in California. Options to overcrowding include year-round education, portable classrooms, new school construction, and maintenance of existing schools. The Association of California School Administrators is seeking specific legislative remedies. (MLF)

Adopting a year-round education schedule can be a traumatic experience in many school communities. A three-part process can help districts implement year-round education: (1) involve as many participants as possible; (2) identify the pros and cons of each factor; and (3) develop a survey instrument to weigh all of the issues. (MLF)