"Get ahead" in what sense? Yay, now some 7-year-olds will be just as educated as some other 8-year-olds, and will be able to skip a grade when school resumes.

"Get ahead" in what sense? Yay, now some 7-year-olds will be just as educated as some other 8-year-olds, and will be able to skip a grade when school resumes. So.. what? Also, why don't we imagine something better than just keeping kids at home all day. Having a year devoted to outdoor activities instead of formal education would be wonderful for everyone, including the teachers (who can still have work), parents (who can get some time away from the kids), and, most importantly, the kids (who are effectively under house arrest until they turn 12).