Over the past two centuries the United States has led the world as a major industrialized nation. Citizens enjoy excellent transportation, cutting-edge technology, a reliable government, and access to extensive employment opportunities. Although the United States enjoys privileges envied around the world, the educational calendar from kindergarten to twelfth grade (K-12) is stuck in the Stone Age. Composed in an era when children were relied upon to work on their families' farms during the long summer months, the traditional school calendar served a purpose. However, lifestyles have radically changed compared to the times of the first development of countries, and it is only rational to adopt a school program suited to the times. Despite being labeled the land of opportunity, current American education is plagued by increasing limitations. Due to the economic crisis, funding for education is being reduced across the country. At the same time, schools suffer from overcrowding and academic results lag behind global standards. It is time to address existing issues within the education system in order to promote future success. A good starting point is implementing a year-round education system that shortens summer vacations to allow for shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the school year. Although parents and administrators are reluctant to give up the tradition of the existing K-12 school calendar, year-round education should be implemented throughout the United States because of the broad benefits it offers today's students. The long summer break that exists in the traditional school schedule is detrimental to student learning. Because of the time spent outside the classroom, students suffer from “summer learning halfway through… local research and development. “How Changing Class Sizes Affect Classrooms and Students. Policy Brief Number 12.” (1990): ERIC. Network. December 14, 2011.Obama, Barack. “President Obama's School Speech.” Speech. September 8, 2009. YouTube. December 5, 2011Sheane, Kim E., Tempe. Morrison Institute for Public Policy. Arizona State University and others and. " (1994): ERIC. Web. December 4, 2011Shields, Carolyn M., and Linda J. LaRocque. Review of the literature on year-round schooling (with an annotated bibliography). 1996. ERIC. Web. December 5, 2011.St Gerard , Vanessa. 2007. “Year-Round Schools Always Look Better.” Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed for Quick Review 72, No. 8: 56-58, EBSCOhost (accessed December 4, 2011), Bernice Proctor. 2011.