Aug 1, 2008 6:56 pm US/Central
CPS Doubles Number Of Year-Round Schools
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Summer break is about to come to a screeching halt for hundreds of Chicago Public School students who start classes Monday morning. As CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports, the district has more than doubled the number of year-round schools.
"Let everyone know school starts August 4th," said Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, CPS Chief Education Officer.
Chicago workers are going door-to-door in Englewood spreading the news that Earle Elementary will open its doors Monday morning.
"Most other schools will open September 2nd. We realize that for schools like Earle that were on a nine-month calendar, this is a major change," Eason-Watkins said.
Earle is one of 23 schools preparing for a major change this year. Eighteen others in the district are already on the year-round calendar. That means students are on a cycle where they attend classes for 45 days - then have a two-week break.
"We're going to the year-round system to eliminate the summer learning loss that many students experience," Eason-Watkins said.
About 480 students attend Earle Elementary. Administrators are hoping for a strong showing Monday morning. But as you might imagine some students who are cutting their summer vacation short are a little less than enthusiastic.
"I don't like to come in real early. My mom is going to try and wake me up early, but I'm gonna get through it," said student Caleb Travis.
It's also an adjustment for veteran teachers like Lois Nelson. She thinks summer breaks are important.
"I personally feel that students need more than just reading and writing. They need those other activities," Nelson said.
But parents, like Artelia Thomas, are willing to sacrifice summer activities for a classroom that provides safety.
"It keeps the kids off the streets and it helps them," Thomas said. "If they go to school and have small breaks, it keeps them occupied."
Starting Monday, these students will be occupied almost every weekday. They won't get a break from school until October.
If there is one downside to the year-round school, it's the summertime weather. The forecast calls for 90 degree temperatures on Monday, and not all the schools are air conditioned. CPS administrators say they will provide fans and bottled water to the schools that need them.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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