This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English EducationReport.

Many American schools have closed for the summer. Most childrenin the United States have a summer holiday of almost three months.This traditional school schedule was designed long ago when manyAmericans lived on farms. Children were needed at home during thesummer to help their families with the crops and animals. Schoolslater continued the tradition, mostly because it was difficult tohold classes in the hot summer weather.

American schools began to experiment with changing this system inthe early nineteen-hundreds. One idea was for children to attendschool all year round. But the idea did not become popular untilabout twenty-five years ago. Studies done at the time showed thatAmerican students were not performing as well as students in othercountries.

Students who attend year-round schools in the United States donot go to class every day of the year. They spend the same number ofdays in class as other students. But the time is organizeddifferently. For example, some students attend school five days aweek for nine weeks. Then they have three weeks off before goingback to school for another nine weeks. In the summer they have aboutfive weeks of holiday.

Supporters of year-round schooling say it improves studentlearning. They say students in the traditional system often forgetwhat they have learned during a long summer holiday. They sayschools can offer special classes during the short holidays forstudents who need extra help. They also say it saves money becausethe school buildings are used throughout the year.

People opposed to year-round schooling say the research has notproved that it improves learning. Families report problemsorganizing activities and travel when children in different schoolshave different holidays. Some parents want their children to have anextended summer away from the pressures of school. People whooperate summer camps for children oppose the idea. So do businessesthat employ teenagers in the summer.

The National Association for Year-Round Education says that morethan two-million American children, out of a total of fifty-twomillion, now attend school year-round. It says forty-seven Americanstates have some schools that operate year-round.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by NancySteinbach. This is Steve Ember.