Impact of School Calendar on Academic Performance: A Comparative Study of the Year-Round and Traditional Calendars

Abstract

Educational provisions enacted at the national level impact states by requiring a priority on improving the academic performance of students. Leaders in educational settings strive to implement changes that will aid in closing achievement gaps and increase academic achievement. The goal of this quantitative study was to determine if differences exist on fifth grade students’ performance on reading and mathematics assessments between schools on full-year calendars and schools on traditional 9-month calendars for years 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019. Although statistically significant differences were not found, results inform decision-making pertinent to time allocated for student learning. Results can be considered by district and campus administrators to support and encourage initiatives which focus on designated instructional time to target students’ academic needs.