how do we get APS to rethink 13 snow days?

[Anonymous]

ART and WMATA buses running reduced bus schedules already today and will certainly be back to normal tomorrow.

People are skirting around the issue that somehow schools are not held accountable to do any better after these snow storms when all other public services are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there will be school tomorrow with a 2 hour delay to make sure everything around the school buildings is cleared.

My street still hasn’t been plowed. I bet they cancel Wednesday too.

Back in 2022 we had the same amount of snow and they closed for a week

That was because they couldn’t get teachers to show up post covid. They were barely able to get enough teachers to show up with no snow. I remember that Friday they said they were opening and then had to rescind and close due to staffing issues.

God you sound awful. The teachers were SICK.

Yes. Also, FCPS ended up closing that Friday after APS said they would open and then a bunch of teachers called out “sick”. It was definitely a combination of factors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Going to school extra days is NOT an educational benefit. School has tons of wasted time. The last week is usually a complete waste, too. And this year in APS, graduation is a full 2 weeks before school ends. Yet summer break has shrunk from 11 to 10 to 9 weeks over the past few years. APS used to use the 990 hour requirement. Now, it has lengthened the school day, has 13 built in snow days, and still insists on 180 days.

OP, writing to APS staff and the school board is an option, but it likely won’t change anything.

No APS always used 180 days.

Arlington goes by hours- that is why we have 13 snow days. We don't have that many actual "extra" days of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the holidays that result in 50+% of students/teachers being absent should be included.

This. Also, Christmas will always be included as it is a federal holiday.

How comveeeeenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

Public school is public. Taxpayer funded. To educate kids. We just had 2 weeks off. Calendar shows another half day in January and then another 4 day weekend at end of the month. Not APE and my kids don't need 8 more days off. They need to be in school.

Why do you hate being around your kids?

Not this poster, but it isn’t about getting away from your kids. These kids would benefit from more instruction, not less.

It really, really is. And they will “benefit from instruction” when there isn’t inclement weather. Unclench.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there will be school tomorrow with a 2 hour delay to make sure everything around the school buildings is cleared.

My street still hasn’t been plowed. I bet they cancel Wednesday too.

Back in 2022 we had the same amount of snow and they closed for a week

That was because they couldn’t get teachers to show up post covid. They were barely able to get enough teachers to show up with no snow. I remember that Friday they said they were opening and then had to rescind and close due to staffing issues.

Okay? Many teachers live in Fairfax. It’s a mess over there.

Yet so many other workers are managing to get to their jobs TODAY!!!

Calm down before you pop a blood vessel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

Public school is public. Taxpayer funded. To educate kids. We just had 2 weeks off. Calendar shows another half day in January and then another 4 day weekend at end of the month. Not APE and my kids don't need 8 more days off. They need to be in school.

Why do you hate being around your kids?

Not this poster, but it isn’t about getting away from your kids. These kids would benefit from more instruction, not less.

It really, really is. And they will “benefit from instruction” when there isn’t inclement weather. Unclench.

Some of you must have little kids. Older kids have activities outside of school they are missing that need to be rescheduled with prolonged closures and the instructional time ahead of immovable AP exams actually matters. It affects my life zero if a high schooler is home in my house. In fact I enjoy the time with them as they are usually quite busy. But it is also not a great for them to sit home because you don’t want 8 year old Sally to brave an ice patch and it doesn’t matter at all she misses a week of 3rd grade math.

Also it is okay that some adults hold down jobs where they need their younger kids to be occupied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there will be school tomorrow with a 2 hour delay to make sure everything around the school buildings is cleared.

My street still hasn’t been plowed. I bet they cancel Wednesday too.

Back in 2022 we had the same amount of snow and they closed for a week

That was because they couldn’t get teachers to show up post covid. They were barely able to get enough teachers to show up with no snow. I remember that Friday they said they were opening and then had to rescind and close due to staffing issues.

That had nothing to do with Covid. It was because FCPS was closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there will be school tomorrow with a 2 hour delay to make sure everything around the school buildings is cleared.

My street still hasn’t been plowed. I bet they cancel Wednesday too.

Back in 2022 we had the same amount of snow and they closed for a week

That was because they couldn’t get teachers to show up post covid. They were barely able to get enough teachers to show up with no snow. I remember that Friday they said they were opening and then had to rescind and close due to staffing issues.

That had nothing to do with Covid. It was because FCPS was closed.

Read more posts this was addressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ART and WMATA buses running reduced bus schedules already today and will certainly be back to normal tomorrow.

People are skirting around the issue that somehow schools are not held accountable to do any better after these snow storms when all other public services are.

If school bus stops are in bad shape tomorrow school will be canceled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there will be school tomorrow with a 2 hour delay to make sure everything around the school buildings is cleared.

My street still hasn’t been plowed. I bet they cancel Wednesday too.

Back in 2022 we had the same amount of snow and they closed for a week

That was because they couldn’t get teachers to show up post covid. They were barely able to get enough teachers to show up with no snow. I remember that Friday they said they were opening and then had to rescind and close due to staffing issues.

Okay? Many teachers live in Fairfax. It’s a mess over there.

Yet so many other workers are managing to get to their jobs TODAY!!!

they probably don't take a school bus to school.

Seriously? Do you know how many of my kids' parents took a public bus to get to work today? Their kids can get to school and so can the teachers.

Public buses run on main roads. School buses go all over on neighborhood streets. Big difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ART and WMATA buses running reduced bus schedules already today and will certainly be back to normal tomorrow.

People are skirting around the issue that somehow schools are not held accountable to do any better after these snow storms when all other public services are.

Held accountable? Listen to yourself. And pop a Xanax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there will be school tomorrow with a 2 hour delay to make sure everything around the school buildings is cleared.

My street still hasn’t been plowed. I bet they cancel Wednesday too.

Back in 2022 we had the same amount of snow and they closed for a week

That was because they couldn’t get teachers to show up post covid. They were barely able to get enough teachers to show up with no snow. I remember that Friday they said they were opening and then had to rescind and close due to staffing issues.

Okay? Many teachers live in Fairfax. It’s a mess over there.

Yet so many other workers are managing to get to their jobs TODAY!!!

they probably don't take a school bus to school.

Seriously? Do you know how many of my kids' parents took a public bus to get to work today? Their kids can get to school and so can the teachers.

Public buses run on main roads. School buses go all over on neighborhood streets. Big difference.

The County prioritizes school bus routes and they are nearly all cleared as of late this morning. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed it works out though and you can stay in your PJs another day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there will be school tomorrow with a 2 hour delay to make sure everything around the school buildings is cleared.

My street still hasn’t been plowed. I bet they cancel Wednesday too.

Back in 2022 we had the same amount of snow and they closed for a week

That was because they couldn’t get teachers to show up post covid. They were barely able to get enough teachers to show up with no snow. I remember that Friday they said they were opening and then had to rescind and close due to staffing issues.

Okay? Many teachers live in Fairfax. It’s a mess over there.

Yet so many other workers are managing to get to their jobs TODAY!!!

they probably don't take a school bus to school.

Seriously? Do you know how many of my kids' parents took a public bus to get to work today? Their kids can get to school and so can the teachers.

Public buses run on main roads. School buses go all over on neighborhood streets. Big difference.

The County prioritizes school bus routes and they are nearly all cleared as of late this morning. Keep all your fingers and toes crossed it works out though and you can stay in your PJs another day.

We'll see. There's also the issue of sidewalks and bus stops being clear so kids can walk safely to schools and stops without walking or standing in the road. I don't think there's any way APS opens on time tomorrow. Maybe a 2 hour delay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ART and WMATA buses running reduced bus schedules already today and will certainly be back to normal tomorrow.

People are skirting around the issue that somehow schools are not held accountable to do any better after these snow storms when all other public services are.

Held accountable? Listen to yourself. And pop a Xanax.

That’s nutty. It was two days, it was necessary.