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The long and lazy summer days may become significantly shorter for some students nationwide if proponents of longer school years get their way. More schools are examining how to add days to the school year by lengthening the current school day or shortening summer vacation. Those in favor of more school time say the change is necessary to avoid many schoolchildren's academic challenges during the long summer months. Opponents argue that reducing summer vacation strips children of the needed respite from the academic grind and the opportunity for more in-depth learning opportunities. While both sides may have a legitimate point to make, the debate may be won by those with the most educational and political clout.

This video from NPR discusses the pros and cons of ditching the long summer break.

Education Secretary Leads the Charge

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is one of the biggest proponents for more school time. Duncan told the Washington Times it should be no surprise that American students are falling behind their counterparts across the globe who attend school in countries not bound by a 180-day school year. Duncan noted in the New York Times that the original 180-day school year was based on the agrarian economy, where children were expected to help in the fields during the summer months. That model is no longer accurate for today’s educational environment or the future workforce.

“If we’re serious

Nearly 20,000 students across the United States are about to see their classroom time get significantly longer. Five states are participating in a new project to improve the state of education in the U.S. At the core of the project is 300 additional hours of school time each year, which will be designed to improve learning outcomes and provide students with a wealth of supplemental learning opportunities. While many are hopeful the additional class time will bring U.S. students up to par with students across the globe, others are skeptical that simply extending the time students spend in school will really bring the quality of instruction and learning to the next level.

About the Time Collaborative

The new program, dubbed the “Time Collaborative,� is indeed a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Education, the Ford Foundation and the National Center for Time and Learning. According to , the three-year initiative will involve 40 schools in the states of Colorado, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Tennessee. Each school will be responsible for adding the additional 300 hours in daily classroom time and number of days on the school calendar. For a school on a typical 180-day calendar, 300 hours breaks down to around 90 minutes of additional classroom time daily.

Reuters reports that funding for the new project will come from a variety of sources, including federal and state government. The National Center on Time and Learning and the Ford Foundation have also pledged around $3

Parent volunteers have long played a vital role in public schools. From serving on the PTA to planning the class party, parents that give of their time, energy, and talents are often responsible for making the public school system what it is for the students. However, few parents who immerse themselves in class volunteer projects realize the far-reaching benefits those few hours provide. Check out these ten ways parental involvement improves school performance for students and schools.

Positive Early Start

Parents are the first teachers which children have, according to a report in the Tahlequah Daily Press. This gives parents the unique opportunity to positively influence students before the first school bell ever rings. By tackling those early learning issues head-on, parents are also better prepared to get involved with their children’s schooling once they head off to public schools.

“There is an obvious difference in children who have participated in activities from an early age,� Susan VanZant, the principal at Greenwood Elementary School in Oklahoma, told the Daily Press. VanZant added that the advantages can continue if parents remain in contact with the teacher throughout their child’s schooling.

“The teacher is always the first go-to person, especially with questions about curriculum,� VanZant explained. Teachers can also be the best contact for questions about discipline, behavior, and social issues unless another school employee is specifically appointed for this purpose. For example, Greenwood

When a child struggles academically, the problem may be out of a parent’s scope of expertise. This may be the time to consider a tutor to help a student over the rough patch. How do you know which tutor will be able to offer the most help to your child? Ask these ten questions before determining which professional best meets your child’s needs.

Which subject is causing the most difficulty?

Before considering a tutor for your child, it is important to identify the specific areas in which your child needs help. This typically involves a conference with the teacher to determine which subjects are causing your child the most difficulty. Reading should be evaluated first since reading troubles can also cross into other subjects. According to Education News Colorado, math and science are also common subjects requiring tutoring.

Does my child face organizational or academic challenges?

For some students, school issues are pointedly academic, such as the child who is struggling with reading or sums. However, if you notice your child is performing well on tests but showing more difficulty with homework, the cause of the problem could be more organizational than academic. Does your child have trouble keeping track of assignments? Does he complete assignments but fail to turn them in? Organizational issues may require a different type of tutoring than academic problems.

This video sets out criteria you should look for when choosing a tutor.

Moving from middle to high school can be traumatic for some freshmen. The changes involved in that move can sometimes be overwhelming, whether social, academic, or physical. Suddenly, students who were guided through the academic process by parents and teachers are expected to perform much more independently than ever before. At the same time, high school is often a period where friendships change as students struggle to figure out where they belong. The good news is that there are plenty of ways parents can help their new high school students adjust to the transition.

Understand Potential Stressors

According to well-known pediatrician Dr. Paul, there are many factors that can cause stress at this time of life, including:

• Changes to school structure, including more teachers, larger school building, and a faster pace
• Changes to body image, as students begin attending school with others who are basically young adults
• Changes in friends, as students head to different schools and different classes than those they grew up with

With these changes comes the fear of not fitting in, not keeping up, and not meeting parental expectations. While many students may not voice these fears to their parents, that doesn’t mean the anxiety doesn’t exist. Parents need to tune into potential stressors in their child’s life during this time to help the child work through those anxieties and concerns proactively.

Provide Reassurance

Once parents understand the factors that contribute to the stress of the high school transition, they can provide reassurances to their child