SB: Why do you believe that "Year-Round" or " Concept 6" Schools are a problem?
CM: The primary problem I see with year round schooling is that it has the potential to bar access to certain resources for certain kids. On the traditional school calendar every staff member is on the same calendar. In a year round school you’ll have certain teachers working on certain calendars. This is a particular problem if you have a specialist and that specialist is only on one track. The school tries its best to keep all the students who need that specialist on the same track, but it’s not a perfect system. You’re going to get kids who end up on different tracks than that specialist. Consequently, when that specialist goes off track they no longer have access to that service.
I have a student who has Down Syndrome. He was originally on the track with the specialist in a special day class. His mother decided that she did not want him in a special day class and it was within her right to request that he be put in mainstream class with proper support. However, we did not have any room in a regular class on that track so he was put in my track. Since he’s on a different track than the specialist he no longer has access to her. So for three months, a third of the school year he is not receiving the services that are stipulated in the IEP. There is no remedy for the fact that this child is not receiving the services he needs.
Interview with Cicely Morris