Marion County elementary school to try year-round calendar as board signs off on pilot plan

OCALA, Fla. – Hundreds of students in Marion County will start the next school year weeks before the rest of the district.

The Marion County School Board on Tuesday gave the final signoff on plans to switch Wyomina Park Elementary School in Ocala to a nearly year-round calendar as part of a pilot program at elementary schools in up to five Florida districts, the result of a state law signed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis with a goal of cutting down on learning loss.

Classes will begin at Wyomina Park Elementary School on July 22 instead of in August, with 584 students set to attend school for the same number of days — 180 — and to have about 12 weeks of vacation spread throughout the year, instead of concentrated during the summer, according to the district.

Challenger 7 Elementary in Brevard County will also take part in the test schedule.

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