AACPS Proposed Schedule Horrible for Working Parents

[Anonymous]

Has anyone else seen and been outraged by the new proposed 2026 school schedule? School starts Aug 19, a full week at Thanksgiving, two full weeks for winter break, 3 full days off in Jan, and a whole bunch of late arrival days. What a disaster for working parents.

[Anonymous]

How is this a disaster? Compared to the 8 half days that we’ve been dealing with in years past and the day after federal holidays off, I think time the shorter summer and time off around slower times of the year work-wise is fine.

[Anonymous]

I’m a working parent who has to pay for summer camps that have to be pre booked by March just to get a spot. This new schedule actually helps me as it’s easier to get into winter fall and spring break camps as everyone isn’t going at the same time. The only complaints I’ve heard are from people with family abroad or beach houses who enjoy having an extra month to live elsewhere else. I think that’s a pretty rare problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else seen and been outraged by the new proposed 2026 school schedule? School starts Aug 19, a full week at Thanksgiving, two full weeks for winter break, 3 full days off in Jan, and a whole bunch of late arrival days. What a disaster for working parents.

Winter break should be two weeks which is what it is in the vast majority of the country and world. Thanksgiving break was a week this year too and the only possible concern there is that it's so close to winter break. The late arrival days can be annoying though particularly if your children are in elementary school. If they are in middle or high school they can probably get to the bus (or walk if close to the school) on their own.

[Anonymous]

Welp they wimped out I guess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Welp they wimped out I guess

What happened?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else seen and been outraged by the new proposed 2026 school schedule? School starts Aug 19, a full week at Thanksgiving, two full weeks for winter break, 3 full days off in Jan, and a whole bunch of late arrival days. What a disaster for working parents.

The good news is thy moved the start to August 24. The bad news is they've cut winter break almost in half, the first day is December 24!
This year managed to start on August 25 and have a two week break so why can't an August 24 start do that?
The five day weekend in January so soon after winter break is absurd! That should be in February halfway between breaks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else seen and been outraged by the new proposed 2026 school schedule? School starts Aug 19, a full week at Thanksgiving, two full weeks for winter break, 3 full days off in Jan, and a whole bunch of late arrival days. What a disaster for working parents.

The good news is thy moved the start to August 24. The bad news is they've cut winter break almost in half, the first day is December 24!
This year managed to start on August 25 and have a two week break so why can't an August 24 start do that?
The five day weekend in January so soon after winter break is absurd! That should be in February halfway between breaks!

August 24 is much more reasonable. I agree with the winter break parts though - the Jan one feels unnecessary!