4 Manassas Park Schools Receive $50,000 in Grants for Year-Round Instruction

Gov. Terry McAuliffe is issuing $50,000 grants to four Manassas Park schools to aid their transition to year-round schools, the Governor’s office announced Wednesday.

Cougar Elementary, Manassas Park Elementary, Manassas Park High and Manassas Park Middle schools are among a list of 29 schools in 13 school divisions receiving grants to support the development and implementation of year-round instructional programs.

Each school will receive a portion of the $1.6 million set aside by the Extended School Year Grant Program, established in 2013 in response to a commissioned report on the efficacy of year-round school programs in raising student achievement, especially among historically underperforming student subgroups.

The Oct. 2012 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report, which analyzed 2001-2009 Standards of Learning (SOL) test data, concluded that “the scores of historically under-performing student groups were more likely to improve at a faster rate in year-round schools than in schools following traditional calendars.”

Gov. McAuliffe said innovative approaches to improving Virginia’s education system will not only grant students more opportunities to learn and succeed, but also help benefit the state’s economy.

“Year-round instruction is not a cure-all that will make achievement gaps disappear,” said Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve R. Staples. “But the evidence so far suggests that it can make a difference among students who are particularly susceptible to learning loss during the traditional summer break.”