{"id":1329,"date":"2011-12-08T11:24:19","date_gmt":"2011-12-08T16:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/convergegroup\/?p=1329"},"modified":"2012-05-09T11:51:19","modified_gmt":"2012-05-09T16:51:19","slug":"indianapolis-schools-convert-to-balanced-calendar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/convergegroup\/2011\/12\/08\/indianapolis-schools-convert-to-balanced-calendar\/","title":{"rendered":"Indianapolis Schools Convert to Balanced Calendar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0by Lauren Pedigo<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Numerous Indianapolis school districts\u00a0will adopt a new calendar next year in hopes of improving attendance and reducing behavior problems.<\/p>\n

A balanced calendar more evenly distributes breaks throughout the school year. Students have two weeks for
\nfall, winter and spring breaks. These changes leave a seven week summer break. During these two week breaks throughout the year, schools offer \u201cintercessions,\u201d a program for struggling and accelerated students.<\/p>\n

Research suggests that adjusting the traditional school year calendar to a \u201cbalanced calendar\u201d links to academic achievement.<\/p>\n

Nationally, research shows that attendance, academic achievement and student and teacher attitudes improved
\nafter schools switched to the balanced calendar. Dr. Stanley DeJarnett of the
\nUniversity of Georgia studied 30 schools using the balanced calendar and
\ndiscovered that 17 recorded \u201csignificant\u201d improvement in these areas while two
\nexperienced a decrease. The remaining 11 districts did not show signs of\u00a0change.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Schools that are switching<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Metropolitan School Distrcit of Warren Township<\/a> began using an augmented calendar two years ago and first offered the balanced calendar as a choice for parents. After one year of use with the balanced calendar, the\u00a0district experienced a one percent increase in attendance and a sixteen percent decrease in expulsions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what you call it, the point is is to reduce the summer gap, shorten the summer gap so you are not reviewing as much.\u201d said Dr. Michael Wallpe, Associate Superintendent of Metropolitan\u00a0School District of Warren Township.<\/p>\n

Indianapolis Public Schools<\/a> began using the balanced calendar this year. Principal Ron White said students living in poverty particularly benefit from this schedule because the shorter summer gap reduces learning loss over the summer. He explained that students from middle and upper income families tend to gain knowledge during the summer because students are exposed to new activities like museum visits or library reading programs. However, students living in poverty do not have these experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe effect of this calendar for students living in poverty is profound.\u201d White said.<\/p>\n

In November, Perry<\/a>, Wayne<\/a> and Franklin<\/a> township school boards approved the use of the balanced calendar for
\nthe upcoming school year. At least six other school districts in central Indiana, including Muncie<\/a>, New Castle<\/a>, Southern Hancock<\/a>, Decatur Township<\/a>, Beech Grove<\/a> and Monroe-Gregg<\/a> are also looking into it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What teachers and administrators say<\/strong><\/p>\n