We have had two years of severe winters, causing the cancellation of school on short notice.  A year-round calendar with at least a month for winter vacation, would make such cancellations less likely.  Thus, it would allow parents to make childcare arrangements in advance and alleviate the scramble to find emergency childcare in winter.

Furthermore, year-round school would mitigate summer learning loss.  Right now, parents who want to keep their children engaged pay for summer camps or have their children participate in the public library's summer reading program. However, the children who most need these programs are, by and large, not participating in them. The shorter summer break would prevent the need for students and teachers to spend the first part of school reviewing the previous year's material and allow them to move forward more quickly.

While there may be some opposition to this change at first, there is broad support from parents, teachers, and principals, especially those who have already experienced year-round school in Chicago. It is time to bring it back and expand it to all Chicago public schools.