DC changing spring break in 2027-29 (Please get them to move it back with Emancipation Day)

[Anonymous]

DC has released their 2026-29 calendars and there is some good news (winter break is two weeks) but there is one MAJOR shock! Spring break isn't with Emancipation Day every year!
Instead they are alternating the break between March and April which is ridiculous. In 2028 the break is ideal as it leads up to Emancipation Day which is on a Sunday that year. In 2027 and 2029 spring break is being held in March before the 3rd quarter is even over which is too early.

[Anonymous]

You asked them to get them to change it. Who did you contact to ask? That would be helpful info if you are asking us for help.

[Anonymous]

I voted for Emancipation Day when the survey was out so I did ask them to change it. As for contacting someone I'd. go with Ask the Chancellor Lewis Ferebee. His link is on the left of the page.
https://dcps.dc.gov/page/sy-26-29-calendars

[Anonymous]

Sorry for not tracking, but can you tell me why I care? Emancipation Day doesn't seem like it needs a full week off and we still get the day, right? I have enjoyed places being a little warmer in April and less crowed when Easter doesn't line up like it does this year, but March would also break up the Jan-June stretch more evenly. I can't tell why you think it's that big of a deal. If we track easter like much of the rest of the country it's easier to meet up with friends/family for us.

[Anonymous]

Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for not tracking, but can you tell me why I care? Emancipation Day doesn't seem like it needs a full week off and we still get the day, right? I have enjoyed places being a little warmer in April and less crowed when Easter doesn't line up like it does this year, but March would also break up the Jan-June stretch more evenly. I can't tell why you think it's that big of a deal. If we track easter like much of the rest of the country it's easier to meet up with friends/family for us.

A March spring break doesn't make sense for a mid-late June last day of school. Schools that end in May have spring break in March because they finish their 3rd quarter sooner.
What is track Easter mean? There are * on the calendar and other ways to look up when religious holidays fall. There is no reason to have spring break based on Easter unless you are at a Catholic school.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure if in the future, considering this administration, emancipation day is even going to be observed…sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

Thanks for the explanation. Still think it weird that people are digging in on Emancipation Day as the trigger instead of just pointing out the time in the month they want to see break. Maybe I'm too sensitive but that feels performative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

Thanks for the explanation. Still think it weird that people are digging in on Emancipation Day as the trigger instead of just pointing out the time in the month they want to see break. Maybe I'm too sensitive but that feels performative.

Emancipation Day is on April 16 unless that is on a weekend in which case it's moved to the adjacent Friday or Monday.
Schools in Massachusetts use Patriots Day as the factor for spring break which is the 3rd Monday in April. They also are off the week of President's Day in February.

Since there are no more half days (there used to be 4) the 180 day requirement should be reduced to 178. The 10 PD days actually occur on 12 calendar dates with 4 PD/record day combinations. Those should be reduced to 8 on 10 calendar days. This would free up 4 days for teachers/2 for students to be off during the year or to end the year sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

Thanks for the explanation. Still think it weird that people are digging in on Emancipation Day as the trigger instead of just pointing out the time in the month they want to see break. Maybe I'm too sensitive but that feels performative.

Wut? Stop looking for “woke” performances everywhere. Traditionally DCPS spring break aligned with Emancipation Day (since 2016 or 2017). It’s the reference point most of us use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

Thanks for the explanation. Still think it weird that people are digging in on Emancipation Day as the trigger instead of just pointing out the time in the month they want to see break. Maybe I'm too sensitive but that feels performative.

People used to complain about having a single day off in April when no one else is off was annoying, so dcps anchored spring break to emancipation day. Having it the same week every year was very convenient; I much preferred it, having been in dcps for long enough to experience both. We're done next year, so fortunately this is not my fight. But if enough people make noise, it could swing back again in the next batch of calendars....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

Thanks for the explanation. Still think it weird that people are digging in on Emancipation Day as the trigger instead of just pointing out the time in the month they want to see break. Maybe I'm too sensitive but that feels performative.

Wut? Stop looking for “woke” performances everywhere. Traditionally DCPS spring break aligned with Emancipation Day (since 2016 or 2017). It’s the reference point most of us use.

Not sure who "us" is. Says a great deal about the insular nature of your world that you can't for a moment conceive that the term and date have not yet been adopted as Thanksgiving or Labor Day by most citizens. Or was this humor? I see what you did! You argued against spotting woke performance art and then engaged in it. Brilliant!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

Thanks for the explanation. Still think it weird that people are digging in on Emancipation Day as the trigger instead of just pointing out the time in the month they want to see break. Maybe I'm too sensitive but that feels performative.

Emancipation Day is on April 16 unless that is on a weekend in which case it's moved to the adjacent Friday or Monday.
Schools in Massachusetts use Patriots Day as the factor for spring break which is the 3rd Monday in April. They also are off the week of President's Day in February.

Since there are no more half days (there used to be 4) the 180 day requirement should be reduced to 178. The 10 PD days actually occur on 12 calendar dates with 4 PD/record day combinations. Those should be reduced to 8 on 10 calendar days. This would free up 4 days for teachers/2 for students to be off during the year or to end the year sooner.

I appreciate you trying to equate it with Patriots Day. I think the analogy (inapt as it may be) is illustrative of how silly the argument it. I used to live up there. It has been an official holiday in MA since the late 1800s. Given how many of you seem to be arguing that Emancipation Day is quite the same I decided to look it up. It was made an official DC holiday in 2008. Not to let facts get in the way or anything...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: Who cares if it lines up with Emancipation Day? Why is that a thing you (or anyone else) are up in arms about?

It's a good marker for spring break so spring break is always at a similar point every year. Easter hops around from year to year so that should not be the deciding factor.

Thanks for the explanation. Still think it weird that people are digging in on Emancipation Day as the trigger instead of just pointing out the time in the month they want to see break. Maybe I'm too sensitive but that feels performative.

Emancipation Day is on April 16 unless that is on a weekend in which case it's moved to the adjacent Friday or Monday.
Schools in Massachusetts use Patriots Day as the factor for spring break which is the 3rd Monday in April. They also are off the week of President's Day in February.

Since there are no more half days (there used to be 4) the 180 day requirement should be reduced to 178. The 10 PD days actually occur on 12 calendar dates with 4 PD/record day combinations. Those should be reduced to 8 on 10 calendar days. This would free up 4 days for teachers/2 for students to be off during the year or to end the year sooner.

I appreciate you trying to equate it with Patriots Day. I think the analogy (inapt as it may be) is illustrative of how silly the argument it. I used to live up there. It has been an official holiday in MA since the late 1800s. Given how many of you seem to be arguing that Emancipation Day is quite the same I decided to look it up. It was made an official DC holiday in 2008. Not to let facts get in the way or anything...

Sure, everyone knows a holiday isn’t really, like, an official holiday until it’s been a holiday for 100+ years.