DCPS Survey - Increase Instructional Time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20 days or 4 weeks still doesn't seem like a lot to me. There is still an entire month off during the summer! Maybe I'm in the minority and totally respect that other people have different opinions, but I would rather have my child get more breaks throughout the day and a longer lunch, rather than have tons of time off at the end. I know when I was a kid, after the first few weeks, the summer break became unbearably long.

Nothing I have seen from Kaya Henderson's interviews where she's talked about wanting to extend the school year suggest that the 20 days/4 weeks would come with more breaks and longer lunch.

True, but that is why there is a questionnaire and that is what I am asking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with someone who was at the recent LSAT budget meetings. She said DCPS pulled their usual thing which was to group clusters of schools, and not allow conversation/discussion across groups, so it was difficult to tell how the majority felt.

This person also told me she felt it was a done deal (to which I still respond - who is going to pay for this). Thinks the idea is 4 longer days, and half day Wednesdays, like many charters do.

If so, this is nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20 days or 4 weeks still doesn't seem like a lot to me. There is still an entire month off during the summer! Maybe I'm in the minority and totally respect that other people have different opinions, but I would rather have my child get more breaks throughout the day and a longer lunch, rather than have tons of time off at the end. I know when I was a kid, after the first few weeks, the summer break became unbearably long.

Nothing I have seen from Kaya Henderson's interviews where she's talked about wanting to extend the school year suggest that the 20 days/4 weeks would come with more breaks and longer lunch.

True, but that is why there is a questionnaire and that is what I am asking for.

Got it. I think it's a done deal and already decided.

[Anonymous]

My school has extended day and some of the better teachers seemed to be burning out. If they last through this school year, I doubt they'll come back next year.

[Anonymous]

So will they also extend the number of days of school you can miss? We'll need more.

[Anonymous]

Good to know now. I expect applications out will be on the rise. Now teachers will have double the recommendations to write.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My school has extended day and some of the better teachers seemed to be burning out. If they last through this school year, I doubt they'll come back next year.

+100

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure that this is the major sticking point in contract negotiations with the teachers union. I don't think the district *can* extend the school year without it being written into the contract. I'm no fan of the WTU, but I'm really hoping that they pull a rabbit out of the hat on this one.

Meanwhile, I'm applying for certification in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

I'm of the belief that they should cut instructional time...let kids have recess and 45 minutes for lunch, even in high school

[Anonymous]

Maybe they can add an additional ANET testing session with the extended time. More worksheets, and then test again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm of the belief that they should cut instructional time...let kids have recess and 45 minutes for lunch, even in high school

I totally agree except that it should be an hour not 45 minutes

[Anonymous]

"EXACTLY. 20 extra days is 4 weeks. DCPS has a 9 week summer break, 2 weeks in December, and a week in April. 5 weeks in the summer is not a sufficient break (with no other break time)."

+ million. I have an upper elementary school kid and the 9 week summer break doesn't seem like enough. Can't image what it would be like to cut that in half just as he's required to do more intensive work.