What does the research say about cost effectiveness of year round schooling?
Some of the literature on this issue is clearly promoting YRS, with little detailed analysis of savings or increased expenditure for either capital or operating costs. Ballinger (1987, 1993) perhaps epitomizes this end of the spectrum. There does not appear to be an obvious opposition to the movement in favour of year-round schooling, with the possible exception of the (to date) mild input of Canadian teacher unions, such as those in Ontario and Alberta. The American unions appear unconcerned with the issue now, although they were much more concerned during processes of implementation which they saw as imposed rather than negotiated. The issue of cost effectiveness is very complex, and much of the analysis in the literature appears inadequate. Reasons for such complexity include variation in models and locations, the range of cost factors involved, ways in which cost factors have been assessed, and the numbers and sizes of schools going year-round. The best and most objective articles
