I support a year-round school calendar. A year-round calendar significantly shortens the summer and limits summer regression. Data supports this. A year-round calendar conflicts with my own teaching schedule. I would miss out on summer activities with my son and pay more for day care. However, I still support a year-round calendar because it would benefit students. I do not support the modified calendar proposed for Albert Lea Area Schools.

First of all, there is no data to demonstrate that the modified calendar would benefit students. Claims to the contrary are untrue. Sure, MCA scores often increase when the school year begins prior to Labor Day, but those aren’t real gains. The gains are merely a result of more in-seat days prior to the test than after the test. Change can be good, but not always. The modified calendar could negatively impact student success. We just don’t know because there is no data.

This proposed calendar has taken up time and resources that should have been used on research-based ideas. Albert Lea Area Schools has already spent $23,600 in consultant and survey costs, and at one meeting Superindentent Mike Funk said that the modified calendar could cost the district $30,000 each year. In addition to the monetary cost, many hours have been spent drafting, redrafting and promoting this calendar. These are resources that should be spent on student learning gains.

There are many things the district can do to increase student learning without modifying the calendar. Here are a few ideas:

• Allow all students to attend the five-week summer school offered to low-performing students.

• Provide online resources or classes (such as Moby Max or Schoology) for summer educational opportunities where students can learn at home, at the library or in the schools. Allow these students to earn rewards or credit for work completion.

• Reduce the adult-to-student ratio even further by having more community members volunteer in the classrooms.

• Have high school students who are interested in becoming teachers volunteer/intern in the schools. Purchase more research-based curriculum. Modifying the calendar is not the only option.

Albert Lea Area Schools is a great district that continues to get a lot of things right. The modified calendar just isn’t right for many families in our community. I hope the district chooses what is right for our families and our students, and looks at other options.

 

Angie Hanson

Albert Lea