FAYETTEVILLE - The Fayette County School Board has approved a new calendar for the 2003-2004 school year that will give students and teachers more breaks during the school year. <br>
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The board voted 3-2 Monday in favor of the so-called ``balanced'' calendar. <br>
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It will give students and teachers a week off at Thanksgiving, in February and in April, as well as a 12-day winter break. <br>
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School will start August 11th, 2003, and end May 28th, 2004. <br>
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Changing dates that students attend school has become a trend in education as public school officials try to improve student performance. <br>
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Many educators complain that the traditional school year - with its long summer break - causes students to forget much of what they learn. <br>
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The new calendars take away weeks from the summer break and put those breaks into the school year. Both calendars have the 180-day school year that the state mandates. <br>
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Fayette will follow Henry County schools, which will start school on a similar calendar in August. <br>
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Douglas County considered a similar calendar for the 2003-04 school year but opted for a traditional schedule.
