Say Goodbye to Long Summer Breaks! Why Arizona Schools Start Earlier

I walked into a retail store yesterday and noticed that the back-to-school merchandise is already being set up. I was perplexed, a little alarmed, even. My kids' school backpack is still sitting, full of end-of-year school supplies, on the floor of her bedroom. How can we be thinking about RETURNING to school already?

Are Arizona's Summer School Breaks Really Getting Shorter?

You've probably noticed your kids' summer break is shrinking faster than an ice cream cone in July!

It's not your imagination. Over the last 20 years, a lot of Arizona's school districts have started shifting to a modified year-round schedule. Students get shorter summers, but they get more breaks throughout the year.

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Arizona Schools Getting Ahead of the "Summer Slide"

A summer slide is not nearly as much fun as the name might suggest. Kids experience the dreaded "summer slide" during their time off. This is characterized as a learning loss that occurs when children are out of school for an extended period.

Schools are cutting summers short in favor of more short breaks during the fall and spring semesters. Educators believe that the change keeps students engaged, which in turn helps them perform better academically.

It's better for teachers and administrators, too. The shorter, more frequent breaks help reduce burnout and make it easier for them to schedule personal time.

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Shorter Summer Break in Cochise County

In Cochise County, for example, summer break for public schools typically starts in late May and runs until mid-July, depending on the district. Shorter breaks are even catching on in higher education. Cochise College’s summer semester kicks off the last week of May, and the fall semester starts in mid-July.

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Some families miss the long, lazy summers of the past. With more working parents, others appreciate the flexibility of the shorter summer schedule.

Love it or hate it, one thing’s for sure: Arizona’s school calendar is continuously evolving, and students are heading back to class earlier than ever.