FCPS vs LCPS School Year 2022-2023

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LCPS school day is longer. Personally I think it is ridiculous that just b/c you have extra minutes each day it adds up such that you do not need 180 school days - but this is the reason.

No that is not it. It’s bc Loudoun doesn’t have the Jewish holidays off.

And Muslim, Hindi, and Greek Orthodox holidays. FCPS added more then Jewish holidays this year. Your response makes me think you are anti-Semitic since you keep harping on the Jewish holidays but skip the other religious holidays that were added.

Keep harping? I made one post. Those are the first holidays early on in the school year. I disagree that we need those off, as well as Diwali or whatever other holidays were added. That does not make me anti Semitic at all.

The same comment has been made in in other topics. The emphasis is on the Jewish holidays not the additional religious holidays. Kind of gross that people are focused on one religion when there are at least four different religions accounting for the extra days off, and one of those religions is Christian.

I don’t think we need the religious holidays off, the only reason Christmas is off is because it is in the middle of the Winter Holiday and is a Federal Holiday. I am fine with keeping them as O days and not allowing Teachers to assign work that is due on them or hold tests on those days. But I can at least see that the new holidays are from a variety of religions and not one.

They reversed the O day policies. Teachers can teach and assign work in those days next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LCPS school day is longer. Personally I think it is ridiculous that just b/c you have extra minutes each day it adds up such that you do not need 180 school days - but this is the reason.

No that is not it. It’s bc Loudoun doesn’t have the Jewish holidays off.

And Muslim, Hindi, and Greek Orthodox holidays. FCPS added more then Jewish holidays this year. Your response makes me think you are anti-Semitic since you keep harping on the Jewish holidays but skip the other religious holidays that were added.

Keep harping? I made one post. Those are the first holidays early on in the school year. I disagree that we need those off, as well as Diwali or whatever other holidays were added. That does not make me anti Semitic at all.

The same comment has been made in in other topics. The emphasis is on the Jewish holidays not the additional religious holidays. Kind of gross that people are focused on one religion when there are at least four different religions accounting for the extra days off, and one of those religions is Christian.

I don’t think we need the religious holidays off, the only reason Christmas is off is because it is in the middle of the Winter Holiday and is a Federal Holiday. I am fine with keeping them as O days and not allowing Teachers to assign work that is due on them or hold tests on those days. But I can at least see that the new holidays are from a variety of religions and not one.

They reversed the O day policies. Teachers can teach and assign work in those days next year.

They can also test, but need to offer a makeup. O days are now essentially an excused absence.

[Anonymous]

Wrong, they cannot have tests, quizzes, and must not teach something that the students will not have an opportunity to learn later. Reading it carefully, there's not a lot of difference between the O days this school year and the O Days next year.

Here is the regulation:

Regulation 2234.11

E. Religious and Cultural Observances
1. Religious and cultural observances are designed to allow students the opportunity to miss school for those observances not already designated as school holidays. These days are:
a. All Saints Day/Dia de los Muertos
b. Bodhi Day
c. Diwali
d. Eid al-Adha
e. Eid al-Fitr
f. First full day of Ramadan
g. Good Friday
h. Last day of Passover
i. Lunar New Year
j. Orthodox Christmas
k. Orthodox Epiphany
l. Orthodox Good Friday
m. Rosh Hashanah
n. Theravada
o. Three Kings Day/Epiphany
p. Yom Kippur

2. Verified student absences on those days may not be designated an unexcused absence by a principal. Students will neither be disadvantaged by, nor penalized for, missing these days.

3. In an effort to create safe, identifying space on days reserved for religious and cultural observances, teachers shall create ungraded lessons or activities on the observance day that:
a. Reinforce previously acquired material
b. Engage students in meaningful learning
c. Are not the sole opportunity to engage in lessons or activities presented on that day

4. When creating school schedules, teachers and school staff shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances;
a. New graded assignments or activities
b. Tests, quizzes, or other assignments
c. Field trips, school pictures, guest speakers, or assemblies
d. Sporting events, school-sponsored special events and activities (for example, prom, back-to-school nights)
e. Auditions or tryouts that cannot be rescheduled
School-based administrators, departments chairs, and team leads will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities. Parents and students who are not satisfied with their school’s response to religious and cultural observances should speak to the school principal. Further appeals may be made to the region assistant superintendent.

5. The class period following religious and cultural observances, teachers and school staff may schedule new graded assignments or activities that have been announced at least one week prior to that day. No other new graded assignments or activities should be due on those days.

6. When creating division-wide schedules, departments and offices shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances:
a. Division-wide special events (for example, graduation, first day of school)
b. Centralized tests for other assessments
c. Recruiting and hiring events
d. Professional development activities or other conferences
e. Town halls or other community events
The deputy superintendent, chief operating officer, chief academic officer, chief equity officer, or region assistant superintendent will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities.
7. State, national, and international competitions, exams, or sporting events (for example, SAT, SOL, AP/IB, VHSL) are not bound by this regulation. FCPS will make every effort possible to communicate dates that are not bound by this regulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wrong, they cannot have tests, quizzes, and must not teach something that the students will not have an opportunity to learn later. Reading it carefully, there's not a lot of difference between the O days this school year and the O Days next year.

Here is the regulation:

Regulation 2234.11

E. Religious and Cultural Observances
1. Religious and cultural observances are designed to allow students the opportunity to miss school for those observances not already designated as school holidays. These days are:
a. All Saints Day/Dia de los Muertos
b. Bodhi Day
c. Diwali
d. Eid al-Adha
e. Eid al-Fitr
f. First full day of Ramadan
g. Good Friday
h. Last day of Passover
i. Lunar New Year
j. Orthodox Christmas
k. Orthodox Epiphany
l. Orthodox Good Friday
m. Rosh Hashanah
n. Theravada
o. Three Kings Day/Epiphany
p. Yom Kippur

2. Verified student absences on those days may not be designated an unexcused absence by a principal. Students will neither be disadvantaged by, nor penalized for, missing these days.

3. In an effort to create safe, identifying space on days reserved for religious and cultural observances, teachers shall create ungraded lessons or activities on the observance day that:
a. Reinforce previously acquired material
b. Engage students in meaningful learning
c. Are not the sole opportunity to engage in lessons or activities presented on that day

4. When creating school schedules, teachers and school staff shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances;
a. New graded assignments or activities
b. Tests, quizzes, or other assignments
c. Field trips, school pictures, guest speakers, or assemblies
d. Sporting events, school-sponsored special events and activities (for example, prom, back-to-school nights)
e. Auditions or tryouts that cannot be rescheduled
School-based administrators, departments chairs, and team leads will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities. Parents and students who are not satisfied with their school’s response to religious and cultural observances should speak to the school principal. Further appeals may be made to the region assistant superintendent.

5. The class period following religious and cultural observances, teachers and school staff may schedule new graded assignments or activities that have been announced at least one week prior to that day. No other new graded assignments or activities should be due on those days.

6. When creating division-wide schedules, departments and offices shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances:
a. Division-wide special events (for example, graduation, first day of school)
b. Centralized tests for other assessments
c. Recruiting and hiring events
d. Professional development activities or other conferences
e. Town halls or other community events
The deputy superintendent, chief operating officer, chief academic officer, chief equity officer, or region assistant superintendent will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities.
7. State, national, and international competitions, exams, or sporting events (for example, SAT, SOL, AP/IB, VHSL) are not bound by this regulation. FCPS will make every effort possible to communicate dates that are not bound by this regulation.

This is not the updated one. New curriculum can be taught. They sent out a gazillion emails saying the regulation will be updated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wrong, they cannot have tests, quizzes, and must not teach something that the students will not have an opportunity to learn later. Reading it carefully, there's not a lot of difference between the O days this school year and the O Days next year.

Here is the regulation:

Regulation 2234.11

E. Religious and Cultural Observances
1. Religious and cultural observances are designed to allow students the opportunity to miss school for those observances not already designated as school holidays. These days are:
a. All Saints Day/Dia de los Muertos
b. Bodhi Day
c. Diwali
d. Eid al-Adha
e. Eid al-Fitr
f. First full day of Ramadan
g. Good Friday
h. Last day of Passover
i. Lunar New Year
j. Orthodox Christmas
k. Orthodox Epiphany
l. Orthodox Good Friday
m. Rosh Hashanah
n. Theravada
o. Three Kings Day/Epiphany
p. Yom Kippur

2. Verified student absences on those days may not be designated an unexcused absence by a principal. Students will neither be disadvantaged by, nor penalized for, missing these days.

3. In an effort to create safe, identifying space on days reserved for religious and cultural observances, teachers shall create ungraded lessons or activities on the observance day that:
a. Reinforce previously acquired material
b. Engage students in meaningful learning
c. Are not the sole opportunity to engage in lessons or activities presented on that day

4. When creating school schedules, teachers and school staff shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances;
a. New graded assignments or activities
b. Tests, quizzes, or other assignments
c. Field trips, school pictures, guest speakers, or assemblies
d. Sporting events, school-sponsored special events and activities (for example, prom, back-to-school nights)
e. Auditions or tryouts that cannot be rescheduled
School-based administrators, departments chairs, and team leads will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities. Parents and students who are not satisfied with their school’s response to religious and cultural observances should speak to the school principal. Further appeals may be made to the region assistant superintendent.

5. The class period following religious and cultural observances, teachers and school staff may schedule new graded assignments or activities that have been announced at least one week prior to that day. No other new graded assignments or activities should be due on those days.

6. When creating division-wide schedules, departments and offices shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances:
a. Division-wide special events (for example, graduation, first day of school)
b. Centralized tests for other assessments
c. Recruiting and hiring events
d. Professional development activities or other conferences
e. Town halls or other community events
The deputy superintendent, chief operating officer, chief academic officer, chief equity officer, or region assistant superintendent will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities.
7. State, national, and international competitions, exams, or sporting events (for example, SAT, SOL, AP/IB, VHSL) are not bound by this regulation. FCPS will make every effort possible to communicate dates that are not bound by this regulation.

This is not the updated one. New curriculum can be taught. They sent out a gazillion emails saying the regulation will be updated.

Yep. I’m the PP, this have been revised but probably won’t be effective until school starts.

[Anonymous]

https://www.fcps.edu/news/fairfax-county-school-board-approves-calendar-based-data-and-community-input

This outlines info that will update regulation 2234. Seems the out of date one is still there. I’m sure it will be updated before school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wrong, they cannot have tests, quizzes, and must not teach something that the students will not have an opportunity to learn later. Reading it carefully, there's not a lot of difference between the O days this school year and the O Days next year.

Here is the regulation:

Regulation 2234.11

E. Religious and Cultural Observances
1. Religious and cultural observances are designed to allow students the opportunity to miss school for those observances not already designated as school holidays. These days are:
a. All Saints Day/Dia de los Muertos
b. Bodhi Day
c. Diwali
d. Eid al-Adha
e. Eid al-Fitr
f. First full day of Ramadan
g. Good Friday
h. Last day of Passover
i. Lunar New Year
j. Orthodox Christmas
k. Orthodox Epiphany
l. Orthodox Good Friday
m. Rosh Hashanah
n. Theravada
o. Three Kings Day/Epiphany
p. Yom Kippur

2. Verified student absences on those days may not be designated an unexcused absence by a principal. Students will neither be disadvantaged by, nor penalized for, missing these days.

3. In an effort to create safe, identifying space on days reserved for religious and cultural observances, teachers shall create ungraded lessons or activities on the observance day that:
a. Reinforce previously acquired material
b. Engage students in meaningful learning
c. Are not the sole opportunity to engage in lessons or activities presented on that day

4. When creating school schedules, teachers and school staff shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances;
a. New graded assignments or activities
b. Tests, quizzes, or other assignments
c. Field trips, school pictures, guest speakers, or assemblies
d. Sporting events, school-sponsored special events and activities (for example, prom, back-to-school nights)
e. Auditions or tryouts that cannot be rescheduled
School-based administrators, departments chairs, and team leads will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities. Parents and students who are not satisfied with their school’s response to religious and cultural observances should speak to the school principal. Further appeals may be made to the region assistant superintendent.

5. The class period following religious and cultural observances, teachers and school staff may schedule new graded assignments or activities that have been announced at least one week prior to that day. No other new graded assignments or activities should be due on those days.

6. When creating division-wide schedules, departments and offices shall not schedule the following activities on days specified as religious and cultural observances:
a. Division-wide special events (for example, graduation, first day of school)
b. Centralized tests for other assessments
c. Recruiting and hiring events
d. Professional development activities or other conferences
e. Town halls or other community events
The deputy superintendent, chief operating officer, chief academic officer, chief equity officer, or region assistant superintendent will be responsible for certifying on a quarterly basis that these days are free from disallowed activities.
7. State, national, and international competitions, exams, or sporting events (for example, SAT, SOL, AP/IB, VHSL) are not bound by this regulation. FCPS will make every effort possible to communicate dates that are not bound by this regulation.

This is not the updated one. New curriculum can be taught. They sent out a gazillion emails saying the regulation will be updated.

Yep. I’m the PP, this have been revised but probably won’t be effective until school starts.

If you look at the one you post it says it was updated in Aug 2021. It is not updated yet.

[Anonymous]

This was in a recent school board member email:

Religious and Cultural Observance Days Regulation Revised

In response to a request from the School Board, FCPS has updated its regulation related to religious and cultural observance days (“O” Days). Changes to the regulation include:

New material can be introduced on religious and cultural observance days provided that the content is made accessible in Schoology and teachers support absent students.
Graded assignments or activities may occur as long as there are opportunities for students absent because of a religious and cultural observance to make up the assignment or activity.
Details are provided for days on which an observance begins at sundown (1/2 O Day).

The regulation was drafted with input from principals who were charged with making recommendations to prioritize instruction while honoring religious and cultural observances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was comparing the FCPS calendar for the academic year 2022-2023 against LCPS's calendar.
FCPS starts on 22 Aug, and LCPS starts on 25 Aug, but the last day of school for FCPS is June 16th, while for LCPS it is June 8th.

Does anyone know why even though LCPS starts their school year late (than FCPS), they are able to close one week early ? I usually thought that if you start late, you end late as well. I am sure there must be an explanation to this, but I couldn't find any information. If someone can share/explain, that would be great!

Did you just look at the 1s day and last day of each Calendar? How about looking at holidays, early releases, O days, teacher work days, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was comparing the FCPS calendar for the academic year 2022-2023 against LCPS's calendar.
FCPS starts on 22 Aug, and LCPS starts on 25 Aug, but the last day of school for FCPS is June 16th, while for LCPS it is June 8th.

Does anyone know why even though LCPS starts their school year late (than FCPS), they are able to close one week early ? I usually thought that if you start late, you end late as well. I am sure there must be an explanation to this, but I couldn't find any information. If someone can share/explain, that would be great!

The obvious explanation is that the FCPS School Board has larded up the calendar with so many holidays and teacher work days. The explicitly religious holidays make a mockery of a supposedly public school calendar, and the excessive winter breaks only make things worse.

It's clear that FCPS could start after Labor Day and end at the end of May, but the School Board would rather cater to religious parties as part of their woke agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LCPS school day is longer. Personally I think it is ridiculous that just b/c you have extra minutes each day it adds up such that you do not need 180 school days - but this is the reason.

It's based on hours (990 hours/yr, I think), not days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LCPS school day is longer. Personally I think it is ridiculous that just b/c you have extra minutes each day it adds up such that you do not need 180 school days - but this is the reason.

It's based on hours (990 hours/yr, I think), not days.

Correct:

8VAC20-131-150. Standard school year and school day.

A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line -- LCPS has far fewer school days than FCPS. They will go to school 170 days, and FCPS will go to school for 180 days.

I’d prefer their 170 days given that the last two weeks of school in FCPS are garbage days anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was comparing the FCPS calendar for the academic year 2022-2023 against LCPS's calendar.
FCPS starts on 22 Aug, and LCPS starts on 25 Aug, but the last day of school for FCPS is June 16th, while for LCPS it is June 8th.

Does anyone know why even though LCPS starts their school year late (than FCPS), they are able to close one week early ? I usually thought that if you start late, you end late as well. I am sure there must be an explanation to this, but I couldn't find any information. If someone can share/explain, that would be great!

The obvious explanation is that the FCPS School Board has larded up the calendar with so many holidays and teacher work days. The explicitly religious holidays make a mockery of a supposedly public school calendar, and the excessive winter breaks only make things worse.

It's clear that FCPS could start after Labor Day and end at the end of May, but the School Board would rather cater to religious parties as part of their woke agenda.

Surveys were done and Parents voted. I'm all for starting BEFORE Labor Day and ending mid June.

Kids don't need 2 1/2 months of vacation time. It hard on working parents, tough on teachers (1st month back is spent reviewing previous year content.). How many camps do kids need to attend? how many hours do kids need to be home alone? How many hour of electronic time do kids/teens need in the summer? etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line -- LCPS has far fewer school days than FCPS. They will go to school 170 days, and FCPS will go to school for 180 days.

I’d prefer their 170 days given that the last two weeks of school in FCPS are garbage days anyway.

Both of you could just move to LCPS then, problem solved! lol.