I support this piece of legislation enthusiastically. I remember my long summer vacations filled with care-free activities, shattered by the return of school, and the "brain-drain" that inevitably comes with it. The blocks we're discussing can be negotiated of course, but the overall goal of this bill, to make a Major 2 month+ vacation, into manageable blocks, is important. As for data, I don't think an NPR article (Simfan), or a Washington Post article (Scott), actually count...
Barnes, I like your proposal very much. I think this type of program can excel in our region, and make a real impact. As Simfan said though, it can work in tandem with the legislation we're now discussing.
Now, I'm going to go completely off tangent here and throw out a couple of issues that can further our goal of increasing our education system;
1) Focusing on College Accredited courses/programs in High School.
2) Truly important to me, putting a focus on Technical/Vocational studies in our regions school system. A good example would be something resembling BOCES here in New York.
3) Including a program that is essentially exactly what Barnes has proposed.
4) Very important; Engage Parents.
Force them to give an email, or phone number. Create an online portal where parents can check updated student grades, see their children's homework, and read weekly comments on their child's progress.
5) Consider grouping Elementary age students by ability. Some students learn faster, some slower. Acknowledging that students learn and develop at different speeds will allow our schools to better tend to our child's needs.
