What is a Balanced Calendar?

 Each year in the spring, we set our clocks forward by one hour. With only a few exceptions, we do this to have sunlight during one additional waking hour of the day. "Daylight Savings time" corresponds to the position of the Sun in the Northern hemisphere and has long been a way to enjoy more hours of sunlight. It does not increase the amount of hours of sunlight it just aligns our day with when the sunlight is most prevalent. 

Traditional school calendars have 180 days of school with a few holidays and breaks and then in June, schools close for about 11 weeks for summer vacation. This way of organizing time has been practiced for over 100 years in the U.S. This 11 week break creates what all teachers know as the "Summer Slide". When students return from summer vacation, teachers spend the first 4-6 weeks of school reteaching information and skills that were taught in the previous school year. This delays the introduction of new material and skills until mid-October.

A balanced calendar reorganizes the school year to reduce the effect of the "Summer Slide" by taking some of the vacation time from the summer and placing strategically within the 180 days of school. Just as Daylight Savings Time doesn't provide more hours of sunlight, a balanced calendar doesn't add days of school or decrease the total vacation time. A balanced calendar strategically places vacations where they can do the least amount of harm and provide rest when rest is needed.

Some districts choose to offer optional programming during the summer- "Summer School". With a balanced calendar, this optional programming can be provided during the breaks during the school year. These are called "intersessions". Intersessions are optional for both students and staff and are in addition to the 180 day school year. Some choose to take time off and rest. Others want to teach and learn new things or improve skills that they are currently learning. Whatever the programming, it is elective in nature.

We aren't sure if this approach to structuring time will be beneficial to Toledo, but we're curious to see if what has worked for others might have benefits here. Follow the journey of the task force and share your questions and ideas here as well. They will be shared with the task force.

More about balanced calendars in Washington.