School Starts Too Early? Let's Talk About It!

It's August 11, and while the weather is finally pleasant, many Chicago-area students are heading back to school. This early start to the school year has sparked some debate. Evanston Township High School, for instance, began classes today. School officials admit this year's start is earlier than usual but argue the benefits. They say this schedule helps balance the semesters, allowing finals to wrap up before winter break. But is this the only way to achieve that balance? Other schools in the area, like Glenbrook, Prospect, and Minooka, are also sending students back early. Even downstate, Belleville Township High School starts this week. The summer heat down there is usually intense, but that hasn't stopped these districts from starting early. Some might wonder if students would prefer a more traditional start after Labor Day. After all, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Starting later would mean a later summer break the following year, but May in Chicago isn't exactly known for its reliable good weather. For many years, Chicago Public Schools started after Labor Day and ended in June. If we're sticking to the traditional nine-month school year, why not align breaks with good weather? It won't be long before snow is on the ground. Some educators suggest a different approach: year-round school. This method aims to reduce learning loss during long summer breaks. A few schools in Durham, North Carolina, have adopted this calendar, with shorter, more frequent breaks. While this approach is still rare, it's worth considering if it leads to better student performance. But since year-round school isn't on the table here, let's make a request. To all the administrators planning school calendars for the future, let's keep summer just a bit longer. Let's get kids to the end of August before throwing them back into reality. It can be done.