Please identify which group best describes your association with Center Grove Schools? Check all that apply. Association with CGCSC 30 37 143 164 Parent/Guardian Teacher 298 Support Staff 1,320 Community Member Student Other
In which of the following levels do you have children enrolled? Check all that apply. Level of Children in School 155 264 Kindergarten 560 787 Elementary School Middle School High School 557 None
A balanced school year calendar could enhance the academic achievement for students. Enhance Achievement? 13% 14% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 73% Not Sure
A shorter summer vacation time would possibly reduce learning loss by students. Reduce Learning Loss? 10% 16% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 74% Not Sure
A balanced school year would have a positive impact on my family’s regular and traditional activities (vacations, involvement in sports, camps, etc.). Positive Impact on Family Activities? 16% Agree/Strongly Agree 24% 60% Disagree/Strongly Disagree Not Sure
I would like a calendar that starts after Labor Day and ends around June 20. Start After Labor Day? 14% 17% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 69% Not Sure
I would like a calendar that starts the first of August, has two- week breaks at the end of each quarter, and ends around June 7. Balanced Calendar? 10% 24% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 66% Not Sure
I would like a calendar that is similar to Center Grove’s current calendar (starts the second week in August and ends around Memorial Day). Stay With Current Calendar? 17% 35% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 48% Not Sure
It’s important for the first semester to end in December (prior to winter break/and the new year). End 1st Semester in December? 17% Agree/Strongly Agree 12% Disagree/Strongly Disagree 71% Not Sure
Child care is easy to find during June, July, and the beginning of August. Child Care Easy to Find in June, July, August? 43% 46% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 11% Not Sure
Child care would be easy to find if there were seven weeks of summer break. Child Care if 7 Weeks of Summer Break? 41% Agree/Strongly Agree 50% Disagree/Strongly Disagree 9% Not Sure
Child care would be easy to find if there were two-week breaks after each quarter. Child Care During 2 Week Breaks? 26% 49% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 25% Not Sure
Having opportunities for students to receive optional enrichment/remediation after each quarter is an advantage for students. Enrichment/Remediation Advantageous? 6% 12% Agree/Strongly Agree Disagree/Strongly Disagree 82% Not Sure
Having a shorter summer break, but two-weeks at the end of each quarter has advantages for our family. Shorter Summers, 2 Week Breaks? 14% Agree/Strongly Agree 22% Disagree/Strongly Disagree 64% Not Sure
The taxpayer cost of providing education remains the same no matter which calendar is selected. Taxpayer Cost Remain the Same? 32% Agree/Strongly Agree 60% Disagree/Strongly Disagree 8% Not Sure
Having the same schedule as most of the schools in Johnson County and nearby school districts is important. Same Calendar as Surrounding Schools? 13% Agree/Strongly Disagree 27% 60% Disagree/Strongly Disagree Not Sure
Here’s What The Teachers Said • UTACG surveyed their membership and received feedback from 84% • The majority (73.7%) responded favorably to considering a balanced calendar • 18.1% responded unfavorably • 84.7% said they would be open to further discussion. • 15.3 % were not interested in any further discussion
Teacher Questions • Data showing how it will affect student achievement • Athletic and performing arts practice implications • Student and parent job implications • Child care implications • Contract implications – extended contracts, sick leave, personal leave, etc.
Balanced Calendars • Advocates feel many aspects of learning improve such as student attendance, attitude, academic achievement and that teachers have greater job satisfaction • Opponents insist that there is no substantial increase in academic student achievement, research is limited and inadequate, and students, parents and caregivers must deal with schedule challenges and adaptation to change
What Does the Research Say? • There are obviously opposing views to the benefits of a balanced calendar. • What both sides would probably agree to is that “much of the empirical data regarding the effects of YRE (balanced calendar) on student achievement and other related outcomes suffers from poor research designs or incomplete data making it difficult to draw conclusions.” (Palmer and Bemis, 1999) • Cooper et al (2003) noted that “weak research designs” prevent us from making “strong inferences about the effects of modified calendars.”
What Does the Research Say? Pros: Cons: • • Eliminates or reduces the The number of quality studies “learning loss” that takes place conducted and published in this during the long summer break area is limited (Kneese, 1996) (Ballinger, 1999; Shields and • Research on year round schools Oberg, 2001, Winter, 2005) does not provide a clear • consensus on the relationship Improves student achievement between year-round schooling (Bradford, 1993; Kneese, 1996; and student achievement Mutchler, 1993; Peltier, 1991; Perry, 1991) • Shields and Oberg (1999) caution that there may not be a simple relationship between student achievement and the modified calendar
What Does the Research Say? Pros: Cons: • • Evidence on retention of Students have a more positive previously learned material is attitude to schooling (Fardig & mixed at best, may vary according Locker, 1992; Shields & Laroque, to subject, and that claims 1998) regarding achievement differences should be viewed • Benefits students identified as with caution (Allinder, Fuchs, “at - risk” (Capps & Cox, 1991; Fuchs and Hamlet, 1992) Gandara & Fish, 1994, Perry, • 1991; Serifs, 1990; Evans, 2007) A review of 12 empirical studies examining student attendance, • Teachers seem less stressed and only one found significantly have a more positive attitude higher rates of attendance, while other showed non-significant (Fardig & Locker, 1992, Shields & differences in both directions Oberg, 1999) (Palmer and Bemis, 1999)
What Does the Research Say? Pros Cons • • Less absenteeism by both Parents found it difficult to students and teachers, and a arrange childcare during reduced student dropout rate intercessions and reported (Glines & Mussatii, 2002; Shields difficulty coordinating the & Oberg, 1999; Zykowski, schedules of their other children Mitchell, Hough & Gavin, 1991) who attended schools with traditional calendars (Graves, • The shorter instructional periods 2009; Orellana & Thorne, 1998) results in a reduction of teacher fatigue and burnout and higher teacher morale (Levine & Ornstein, 1993)
What Does the Research Say? Pros Cons • • Many teachers believe that the There was no significant continuity of instruction leads to differences in students’ a better quality of instruction outcomes, but students and (Quinlan, George &Emmett, parents perceived year-round 1987) and that year-round education benefits (Campbell, schedule impacts positively on 1994) the way in which they plan for • Does not reduce class size instruction (Shields and Oberg, 2000) • Does not increase building capacity
Summary • The preponderance of literature indicates there is no conclusive evidence to support or refute the value of a balanced calendar. While it is not clear that a balanced calendar improves student achievement, it appears that is does not bring about a decline in achievement either • A substantial body of work indicates there are no significant differences in achievement between students on a modified calendar and those on a traditional one (Harp, 1993; Zykowski et al., 1991)
Surrounding Schools Balanced Calendar Considering • MSD Warren Township • Clark-Pleasant • MSD Wayne Township • Greenwood* • MSD Perry Township • C-9* • MSD Franklin Township • Plainfield* • Avon • Brownsburg • IPS • Beech Grove • *Modified this year
What’s Next? Gather input from parents/teachers Review research Work with UTACG to develop calendar proposal(s) for the 2013-14 school year Bring a proposal back to the board in March, 2012 (Provides community 17 months to prepare for 2013-14 calendar)
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