They found that Japanese elementary school children devote more time to the study of math than does any other nation. By the end of eighth grade, Japanese students had compiled 1,370 hours of math study compared to U.S. students' 1,054 hours. Even more telling were the figures representing the after-school hours Japanese and American students devote to math. The Japanese devoted 269 hours to math work after school, in sharp contrast to 80 hours for the U.S. Students from both countries spent about the same time in class. A study conducted by the New York Board of Regents found that an average of four weeks is needed each new school year to review math forgotten during the 12-week summer break.
Japan has a six-week summer, but students are required to do math homework every weekday.
When they return to school, Japanese students do not need review. Lewis and Seidman calculate that if U.S. schools add three weeks to the school year and require 10 minutes per day of summer math homework, summer deterioration would decrease by one-third and the U.S. could rise from 13th place to 8th in math scores. Del. McDonald's offered to reward students who finish weekly assignments with various treats at its restaurants. All Lewis and Seidman are hoping for this first year is that students complete the assignments and that less review time is needed in the fall.