Question

Claim: Attending school year round will increase students’ retention of material.

Counterclaim: Studies have not proven academic benefits of year-round school.

Which statement would be most effective in a rebuttal to the counterclaim?

Test scores aren’t the only way to measure improvement; year-round school also boosts morale.
Scientists can’t see the benefits of year-round school because their surveys aren’t sophisticated.
Year-round school is the only path forward if we care about our students’ futures.
On second thought, the opposing side makes a strong case against year-round school.

Answer 1

"Test scores aren’t the only way to measure improvement; year-round school also boosts morale."

Why: It directly challenges the premise that only tested academic outcomes matter and offers an alternative, relevant measure of benefit (student morale/engagement), making it a focused, reasonable rebuttal.