Wyoming considers year-round school - KOTA Territory News

Wyoming considers year-round school

Wyoming lawmakers are taking a look at changing the school schedule to last all year round.

A State House committee approved a bill that would provide $3 million for six districts participating in a pilot program.

The six participating districts would only commit one school to the program.

Sheridan County School District Two administrators would seriously discuss trying this at an elementary school if the bill passes, but they realize the change might not work for many families.

"If their siblings are at the junior high or the high school level and aren't on the typical summer break, the elementary student isn't, what does that do for families and vacations and planning around those kinds of things," said Elementary Education Director Scott Stults.

One Sheridan teacher who worked at a year-round Nevada district says the switch would likely lead to better academic performance.

"What I found is it really helped kids maintain their education over the summer and there was less catch up, like you have to do every year when the school years starts," said Meadowlark Elementary fifth grade teacher David Williams.

The year round schedule would not add days to the school year, but space out vacations so no break is longer than three weeks.