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As the new year takes off, new thoughts on students’ time will be talked about in a virtual community forum hosted by local school districts next week.

The forum is 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The Chimacum and Port Townsend School District Calendar Work Groups will share their research, then host a conversation on the topic of improving students’ success with a modified or balanced school calendar. 

In Washington state, a traditional school year lasts 180 days. Students have a few short breaks along the way and a long break in the summer.

Instead of concentrating 180 school days into nine months, a balanced calendar spreads them throughout the year. Schools may use the breaks to host “intersessions,” where they can provide additional learning experiences if needed.

Many students experience a loss of learning and continuity during the extended (summer) break in a traditional calendar. Balanced calendar modifies the traditional 180-day calendar to keep the learning process continuous, while still making sure all students receive 180 days of instruction. The goal is for less review time at the beginning of the school year and more instructional time for all students.

This school calendar exploration is part of a greater initiative from the Washington State Legislature about learning recovery.