Should Summer Breaks Be Shorter?

Illustration by Leo Trinidad; Debate photos courtesy of families

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. 

Here’s what two of our readers think.

I go to Red River Elementary, and I like our balanced calendar. With a traditional calendar, I was out of school long enough to forget things I had learned. I had to go back and relearn them to be on target for my new grade level.

Though the summer break was shorter, I still enjoyed it. I visited my grandparents, went to water parks with friends, and had a big birthday party!

Also, my friends at other schools tell me I’m lucky because they wish they could get so many two-week breaks during the school year. 

After a full year of school, students deserve a long summer break as a reward for all of their hard work.

Plus, having the whole summer off gives me more time to travel with my family and explore new places. Summer is also when I get to enjoy my favorite sports—swimming, baseball, and biking. If I were in school, I’d have less time for these activities.

Kids can avoid falling behind while school is out for the summer. They can read on their own to prepare for the next school year.

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