A 2024 study, commissioned by Yoto Mini, found 55% of parents feel overwhelmed at the thought of keeping their kids entertained for six straight weeks. While summer break has long been seen as a childhood rite of passage, not everyone is convinced it’s still serving kids, or parents, well. Could switching to a year-round school schedule actually help children do better, feel happier and stay healthier? As more schools explore year-round class options, many ask: Is it time to rethink summer break? What are experts saying about it, and its pros and cons? Keeps learning fresh all year long One big benefit of canceling summer break is reducing the dreaded summer slide, where students may experience learning loss during the extended vacation. A recent study announced summer learning loss equaled about one month of classroom learning, and students tended to regress more in math skills compared to reading skills. It also found that students from middle- and upper-class families improved their reading skills over the summer, while students from lower-income families regressed. This loss tends to hit harder for kids from families with fewer resources, making it even tougher to catch up once school starts again. Year-round schooling, with shorter breaks spaced throughout the year, helps keep knowledge fresh and learning continuous, which means less stress for kids and parents alike. That said, as Heidi Bruaw from Real Life of Lulu points out, “Shifting to year-round school might help with the summer slide, but it still depends on the student. Some need longer breaks to decompress due to social challenges or stress, who might not get the time they need to recover before school starts again.” And academic gains aren’t always guaranteed. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District recently ended its 15-year experiment with year-round schooling, citing no meaningful improvements in student outcomes despite the extended calendar. Their experience underscores that while keeping learning fresh is a worthy goal, how it’s implemented and whether it works can vary widely. This all serves as a reminder that the conversation about year-round schooling is as much about emotional and logistical fit as it is about academic benefit. Provides support when it matters most Kids who struggle in school often need steady support, and long breaks can interrupt that. With year-round schooling, students get shorter breaks, which means that interventions and support services can be provided more regularly, preventing them from slipping through the cracks. This continuous engagement helps maintain academic momentum, keeps students motivated and reduces dropout rates among vulnerable student populations. As Louise Sattler, a Certified School Psychologist from California, points out, an extended school year “can be a support factor for a child with intense special needs who would experience much regression if they do not have a consistent program.” Year-round schooling creates more consistent touchpoints for academic and emotional development, especially for students who need extra help to thrive. Plus, it also minimizes the back-to-school frenzy for parents and caregivers. Improves student engagement Long stretches away from school can sometimes make kids lose their spark for learning and lead to disengagement. Year-round schooling helps by breaking up the year into manageable chunks with built-in breaks. Kids stay more excited and engaged, which means less boredom, better behavior and no burnout; and when they enjoy school, everyone wins. Rob Carlson, a […]