Superintendent supports longer school year

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cedar Rapids school district Superintendent Dave Benson called education an investment in the community's future, yet the way schools operate in this country continuously put students at a disadvantage.

The 180-day school year is among the smallest in the world.

“Our typical international competition goes to school 200 to 210 days a year,” Benson said in his remarks to the Downtown Cedar Rapids Rotary Club on Monday, Aug. 22. “By the time they are a sophomore, they have gone to school a year longer than American students.”

That advantage can be seen in test scores, where American students continue to fall behind.

“We are no longer an agrarian community, even in Iowa,” Benson said.

The endorsement of a longer school year and school day was one of Benson's suggestions for how the community can support education. Others include supporting education changes and additional professional development for teachers.

Benson said the countries with high levels of student achievement offer more professional learning opportunities for staff.

Benson was the last of four school speakers to address Rotarians this month. His presentation included a quick history of the district, its flood recovery efforts and enrollment trends.

Cedar Rapids is the state's second-largest school district. It also is a shrinking district, with student enrollment numbers decreasing. Projections have enrollment numbers flat for the next five years. Last year's enrollment was 16, 503 students, alternative kindergarten through 12

What is increasing is the district's student poverty level. About half of last year's students qualified for free and reduced-price meals.

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