| History of Year-Round Education 1904: A four-quarter schedule in Bluffton, Indiana became known as the forerunner of modern year-round education. 1910-1938: Various forms of year-round and extended calendars were used to increase space, improve the quality of education, provide a setting in which European immigrant children could learn English, and offer 12-month access to vocational training. States involved included Texas, New Jersey, North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. During this period, the first mandated K-12 YRE program was implemented in Aliquippa, PA (1928-1938). 1938-1945: YRE ceased during World War II, for national uniformity was felt essential to the war effort to provide summer workers for the farms and factories. 1946-1967: YRE was discussed in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Royal Oaks, Michigan and in the state of New York, but was not implemented. Rebuilding America and the Korean and Vietnam wars were major factors. 1968: Hayward, California implemented an official 50-15 YRE program at Park Elementary School, which became the first YRE school following WWII. It later changed to a 45-15 plan but remains the longest-running YRE program in the nation. 1969: Francis Howell School District in St. Charles, Missouri, introduced the first multiple track calendar in the nation. It was a 9-3 pattern, now commonly called the 45-15 calendar. That same year, the Wilson Campus School at Mankato State University, Mankato, MN, implemented the personalized continuous year 12-month calendar. 1970: The Valley View district in Romeoville, IL, reached a milestone as it introduced a multi-track 45-15 plan later mandated to K-12, the first such program since Aliquippa (1938). 1971: La Mesa-Spring Valley District (K-8) and the Chula Vista District (K-6), both in San Diego County, became the first multi-track YRE programs in California. They launched the state on its way to a national leadership role as their 45-15 programs, patterned after the successful Valley View schedule in Illinois, caused a change in legislation, and in turn became the immediate model for 13 other California districts that began by 1974. 1970's-1980's: YRE studies, proposed plans and implementation projects continued. Each year, many new communities were added to the YRE roster. 1990: By 1990, 859 schools and 733,660 students in 152 districts and 22 states were year-round. 1993-1994: More than 1,400,000 students are enrolled in nearly 2,000 schools in 33 states, with interest still increasing across the nation. 1994-1995: Number of students enrolled in year-round programs continues to increase, over 2,200 schools in 37 states. 1995-96: YRE experiences its eleventh consecutive year of growth. More than 1.7 million students attend year-round schools in 39 states. 1996-97: YRE continues to grow. Now 2,460 schools in 41 states enjoy alternative schedules. Total enrollment reaches nearly 1.8 million students. 1997-98: Once again YRE experiences a tremendous growth spurt. Now over 2,800 schools with enrollment of 1.9 million students are on a year-round schedule. 1998-99: For the first time, the number of students on a year-round schedule breaks the 2 million mark. 1999-2000: Two new states (Mississippi and South Dakota) and the District of Columbia add year-round programs. The total number of schools passes the 3,000 mark for the first time. 2000-2001: North Dakota adds year-round program. YRE enjoys 15th
consecutive year of growth. |