School’s out for summer, as Alice Cooper once sang. But in Flint that summer vacation is about to get a lot shorter. The city’s public schools are switching to a balanced school calendar that will start on August 7. Those lost summer vacation days will be converted into shorter breaks throughout the year.
The goal is to reduce so-called summer brain drain. But does it work?
Elizabeth Moje is the dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Education. She spoke to Michigan Radio’s Morning Edition host Doug Tribou about the strategy.
Flint Community Schools' new school calendar includes five breaks, known as "intersessions," in addition to traditional holiday breaks.
Moje says intersessions can be a time for schools to provide additional programs for students. She says they also give teachers an opportunity to build their upcoming lesson plans.
Flint has been using a balanced calendar in one of its elementary schools for the past few years, but this is the first time it will try the approach district-wide.
