Several school districts across the Palmetto State have switched their academic calendars to a modified year-round schedule. Lexington County School District 3, which serves Batesburg-Leesville, is one of them. 

The district returned to school Aug. 1, weeks earlier than many others. This year, they’re testing out a new schedule that extends the academic year by two weeks but still meets the requirements set by the state Department of Education. 

The department mandates that all public schools have 180 days in the classroom for students and 190 days for teachers.

The idea of a modified schedule was originally proposed for the 2020-2021 school year, and Cheryl Burgess, chair of the Lexington 3 School Board, said she has been a supporter since the beginning. 

“I've talked with several districts, especially Edgefield,” she said. “They did this a year before us and they were successful. Their teachers liked it, the students liked it and everyone enjoyed those two weeks' break.”

Rather than having just a week for spring and fall break, students now have an educational alternative break that can be beneficial in numerous ways.

Students “can either get extra help in the subjects they're struggling with or they can partake in more challenging curriculum to help them push further in their learning,” Burgess said.

Despite the district offering these enrichment sessions, they are not required. Students who do not participate in the enrichment sessions can enjoy the full break. Each session will be offered during the first week of the break and they’re designated on the district's academic calendar.

The sessions aren’t just for make-up work or advanced learning. Students can sign up for other enrichment activities, such as culinary camps, sports camps and archery camps, Burgess told the Chronicle. 

It’s unclear what exactly the topics of enrichment sessions will be, but the district plans to stay in touch via automated phone calls, social media, and newsletters. 

The enrichment sessions will be located at each individual school and will span K-12.

“I was excited because the people I talked to, everybody was happy,” Burgess said. 

Teachers “were all a little apprehensive going into it, but once they got into it, they felt like it was a really good schedule,” she added.

This year will be used as a trial and the district plans to re-evaluate the effectiveness in November when they vote on next year's academic calendar. 

The district doesn’t expect any issues regarding caregivers finding local childcare for the weeks that classes are out of session. 

The board is currently developing plans to offer transportation for students interested in taking advantage of the enrichment sessions.