The Los Angeles Unified School District is only one of the many school districts in Southern California who have adapted an “early-start” schedule. Under this calendar, students start school in mid to late August and get out of school in late May. Other school districts in the area that have already adopted earlier back-to-school dates include: Burbank and Baldwin Park, Ontario/Montclair, Santa Ana, Glendale, Santa Monica and West Covina Unified School Districts.
Other school districts in Southern California should also adopt this early-start schedule, proven to have various benefits. First of all, school officials say they are adopting this calendar because of higher test scores in test districts. Last year, 18 high schools in the San Fernando Valley that tested out the new schedule reported higher scores in standardized testing. LAUSD board members decided in October 2010 to push ahead with the early-start schedule but postponed it for two years because of initial resistance from parents and students.
“We want to publicly make sense of this work so that people see a direct link between student achievement and the work that’s taking place,” said John Deasy, superintendent of LAUSD, at its annual meeting on Aug. 9, 2012.
Furthermore, students will feel more at ease during breaks. Students in LAUSD will enjoy a three week-long winter break between the fall and spring semesters. In other words, high school students will not have to study for final exams during the weeks when many families go on vacation. In addition, students can also enjoy summer only a month after Advanced Placement exams are over in May. They would not have to stay unmotivated in school for another two months while preparing for grueling final exams.
Although one might claim that starting school early has no proven results, this is not true. The 18 high schools have reported lower AP scores last year. Other Southern California school districts that adopted an early-start schedule have shown much improvement, especially in the Santa Monica and West Covina Unified School Districts.
Schools want their kids to do better. This is a great way to encourage them to do their best-by having them feel more relaxed yet more motivated. And the results are beginning to show.
