Watch CBS News

Summer Vacation Already Over For Some Philly Students

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's the middle of August. But for some Philadelphia students, school bells were ringing this morning.

"Good morning, good morning."

Staffers welcomed students to the first day of the new year at the Global Leadership Academy Charter in West Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia School District doesn't begin classes for another three weeks. GLA CEO Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker says her charter goes the same 180 days, but with extended winter and spring breaks, the summer break is shorter by design.

"The research and what we know tells us that the longer children are away from school, the more they lose.  And so you spend September and October reteaching as opposed to reviewing."

A shorter vacation is just fine with third grader Abraham Wright. He's ready to return to his school.

"Because I missed GLA."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.