Year-Round School Gains Ground Around U.S.

"Ten years ago, according to Education Department statistics, about 1.5 million public school children went to class on a 'balanced schedule' — usually shorthanded as YRE, for 'year-round education.' Six years ago, that number was up to 2 million. By 2008, nearly 2.5 million pupils were on a YRE plan."

Hawaii Creates Nation's Shortest School Year, Cites Budget Cuts

Hawaii "has created the nation's shortest school year under a new union contract that closes schools on most Fridays for the remainder of the academic calendar."