Student Achievement: Is Equality Really Necessary? (original) (raw)

This study was conducted to: (1) determine if the intercession calendar, an alternative calendar that reduces the total school year for students who do not need remediation, positively impacts overall student achievement; (2) to assess the explanatory ability of the intercession model in accounting for student academic achievement variability; and (3) to determine the variables which differentiate among the treatment group using discriminate analysis. The intercession calendar was not a year-round calendar. Instead, it reduced the school year from 180 to 170 days for students of average achievement and above, with a one-week session between the grading periods for students in need of remediation. Results for 4,474 students in 10 school districts show that the intercession calendar had a positive impact on student academic achievement in general and on reading in particular. In addition, the intercession calendar had a positive effect on economically disadvantaged students passing all Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) examinations simultaneously. The results of this study call into question a number of assumptions regarding long-held traditions of public education. Some limitations of the research are noted, and suggestions are made for further research. This alternative calendar is a systematic reform model that provides individualized assistance to each student within the school district. The intercession calendar is attached. (Contains 2 tables and 14 references.