The Fairfield school system, north of Cincinnati, may reschedule its future spring breaks to better allow students to prepare for the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) and other state standardized tests.

The district's board of education is debating a move to permanently fix spring break to whatever week includes April 1. Traditionally, spring breaks have been scheduled around the Easter holiday in most Ohio schools, with no consideration to the OGT and other tests.

By fixing a permanent date that falls after the mandatory state testing dates in March, students will get more continuous classtime to prepare for the OGT. High school sophomores will take the OGT the week of March 15 under current state requirements.

Achievement tests for grades 3-8 are given the first week in May. By scheduling spring break halfway between the two testing periods, student chances of success are optimized, officials said.

Student scores on those standardized tests are key components of the district's overall report card.

The soonest the change would take place is with the 2008-09 school year.

Spring break in the Fairfield school system this year begins on Good Friday, April 6, and continues for the week following Easter.

A handful of parents have expressed concern that concern over the OGT has interfered with a religious family holiday.