Ballinger and Kneese have addressed every issue faced by schools and districts that are interested in school calendar reform. [This book] is a comprehensive document that guides school personnel, parents, and communities through the process of bringing about calendar changes. It also provides information on various calendars, research, and addresses various issues associated with year-round education.

John Hodge Jones, chair, National Education Commission on Time and Learning

Ballinger and Kneese provide a challenging look at how the anachronistic school calendar handicaps teachers and harms students. In this thorough examination, they explain why the school calendar looks like it does, how it has shaped school practice, and why it needs to change. They close by considering an array of alternatives in clear, careful, sensible prose. Rethinking organization of school time is a critical element of refashioning schooling for the 21st century, and this book is a timely and important contribution to that effort.

Frederick M. Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute

Two veteran educators and activists explain why the traditional K-12 school-year calendar looks like it does and make a case for restructuring it to increase opportunities for learning.

Reference and Research Book News

Anyone considering a schedule modification might review the data in this book before making a decision.

School Administrator

Rationalizing the amount of time that teachers spend with their students-as well as the way in which these valuable minutes and hours are organized-is fundamental to every serious effort to improve the academic performance of American students. This book offers a valuable roadmap to educators and policy makers seeking to understand their options and shape effective instructional policies.

Ed Fiske, former education writer for New York Times