It's final: School year extended until mid-July - Inside Israel

PM Netanyahyu, Education Min., extend school year until mid-July, with subsidized at-school camps until August 6.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Yoav Galant (Likud), together with the Finance Ministry and the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, on Tuesday agreed on a plan to operate schools and preschools during July and August, to the tune of 700 million shekel ($199,162,390).

The announcement, made by the parties themselves, said that the school year will continue until July 13, and afterwards there will be educational camps until August 6.

The camps will be held at the schools and preschools, and will run until the afternoon hours for preschool through grade 2, with grades 3-4 operating as usual, until August 6. This plan will apply to non-Ministry schools as well.

Parents in poorer localities will not pay for the camps, and those in areas considered to be higher on the socio-economic ladder will pay a portion of the expenses, according to how their locality is ranked.

The announcement also stated that the schools and preschools' operation during summer vacation is intended to help working parents and fully reopen the economy, as well as to close the educational and academic gaps created during the coronavirus lockdown.

By extending the school year and delaying summer vacation, parents will be able to continue working without the usual expense of summer camps, helping the economy recover from the lockdown.