Many kids get a couple of months off for summer vacation. But students at Red River Elementary School in Coushatta, Louisiana, had a shorter break this year. Their last day of school was near the end of June. But they were back in the classroom on August 11.
Their district switched to what’s called a balanced calendar in 2020. Red River students have the same number of school days they always did. Although their summer break is now shorter, they get several two-week breaks throughout the year. More than 3,500 schools in the U.S. follow similar schedules.
Red River made the switch, in part, to help make up for learning lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. School officials say the new schedule prevents students from forgetting what they learned the previous school year.
But other people argue that kids need a longer summer break to rest and recharge for the new school year. They say kids need more time for camps, family vacations, and playing outside while the weather’s warm.