Will DCPS ignore snow days again in June?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went back to look at how this went down last year, and it seems like they found some technical way to claim that they fulfilled the 180 day requirement despite two snow days. But there was never a formal announcement explaining the decision; the only thing i can find is a Twitter post in late April reiterating that the last day of school was still June 17.

I assume something similar will happen this year, assuming no additional snow days. Otherwise, presumably the last day of school will move to Friday, 6/20, with the teacher records day moving to Monday, 6/23.

Our charter school had “asynchronous learning” days during spring break last year. This year they proactively added them in November. The kids did worksheets. No one learned anything.

It didn’t bother me because our kids are in lower elementary, and I wouldn’t have sent them for days added at the end of the year anyway because we scheduled summer travel for the day after the last day of school. But as they get older loss of instructional time is going to be a bigger issue.

Charters are really abusing the rules, much more than DCPS. Some of them are not even in the ballpark of 180 days.

At least DCPS tallies up the 180 days on the calendar: https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/SY%2024-25%20Calendar%20Final_03202024_English.pdf

Which charters are egregiously shirking on the 180 day requirement? Can anyone link to calendar examples?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

There’s a huge space between not caring about making up snow days (well into June when teachers and kids are burned out) and not valuing education at all. I personally think they should use the days they put on the calendar for this purpose, but there’s no need to be histrionic about it.

[Anonymous]

This is an area where the Trump administration could do some good. Someone needs to force OSSE to follow the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

They could easily add days to the school year *before* June. Teachers could postpone their PD days in June or god forbid schools don't take two weeks off at Xmas.

IIRC most DCPS teachers on DCUM complain about the number of unnecessary PD days. They'd prefer to get out of school earlier in June! Makes sense to sacrifice the January 17 PD day for snow day makeup.

Oh yes, FYI - your kids are off school Friday next week! They just desperately need a 4 day weekend after Xmas break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

Some might say that adding more days at the end of the school year is a babysitting service, too. You are clinging on to the extra days for what? Stop acting like this is unique to DCPS or modern education. Everyone knows the month of June is a joke. You think you were reading an anthology and having socratic seminars in the 3rd grade on June 15th in the 80's? Stop acting like it's some kind of inequity and just say you need babysitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went back to look at how this went down last year, and it seems like they found some technical way to claim that they fulfilled the 180 day requirement despite two snow days. But there was never a formal announcement explaining the decision; the only thing i can find is a Twitter post in late April reiterating that the last day of school was still June 17.

I assume something similar will happen this year, assuming no additional snow days. Otherwise, presumably the last day of school will move to Friday, 6/20, with the teacher records day moving to Monday, 6/23.

Our charter school had “asynchronous learning” days during spring break last year. This year they proactively added them in November. The kids did worksheets. No one learned anything.

It didn’t bother me because our kids are in lower elementary, and I wouldn’t have sent them for days added at the end of the year anyway because we scheduled summer travel for the day after the last day of school. But as they get older loss of instructional time is going to be a bigger issue.

Charters are really abusing the rules, much more than DCPS. Some of them are not even in the ballpark of 180 days.

At least DCPS tallies up the 180 days on the calendar: https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/SY%2024-25%20Calendar%20Final_03202024_English.pdf

Which charters are egregiously shirking on the 180 day requirement? Can anyone link to calendar examples?

Some charter schools take PD days every single week. How can any school meet the 180 day requirement if they take weekly PD days and, on top of that, all the days that are canceled because of the weather? Answer: They can't, except with some accounting magic provided by OSSE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

There’s a huge space between not caring about making up snow days (well into June when teachers and kids are burned out) and not valuing education at all. I personally think they should use the days they put on the calendar for this purpose, but there’s no need to be histrionic about it.

I'm not being "histrionic" about it and you might want to look up the history of that word and stop using it.

It's all of a piece. Teachers and kids get burned out in June because they stop adhering to a schedule and start just giving out treats and letting kids watch movies every day. Ever let your kid just have endless screen time and eat like crap for a few days? It's a good way to ensure they are tired, cranky, and incapable of doing anything useful. It's a self-created problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

Some might say that adding more days at the end of the school year is a babysitting service, too. You are clinging on to the extra days for what? Stop acting like this is unique to DCPS or modern education. Everyone knows the month of June is a joke. You think you were reading an anthology and having socratic seminars in the 3rd grade on June 15th in the 80's? Stop acting like it's some kind of inequity and just say you need babysitting.

The law is kids are in school for a minimum 180 days. If you don't like, get the law changed. Oh you can't do that? Then shut the fkc up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

Some might say that adding more days at the end of the school year is a babysitting service, too. You are clinging on to the extra days for what? Stop acting like this is unique to DCPS or modern education. Everyone knows the month of June is a joke. You think you were reading an anthology and having socratic seminars in the 3rd grade on June 15th in the 80's? Stop acting like it's some kind of inequity and just say you need babysitting.

Everyone does not know that. It's a defeatist attitude people adopt to justify not making any effort.

I personally think we should switch to year round school with seasonal breaks to avoid this BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

Some might say that adding more days at the end of the school year is a babysitting service, too. You are clinging on to the extra days for what? Stop acting like this is unique to DCPS or modern education. Everyone knows the month of June is a joke. You think you were reading an anthology and having socratic seminars in the 3rd grade on June 15th in the 80's? Stop acting like it's some kind of inequity and just say you need babysitting.

The law is kids are in school for a minimum 180 days. If you don't like, get the law changed. Oh you can't do that? Then shut the fkc up.

You should spend this snow day finding therapy for your internet rage. Are you OK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

There’s a huge space between not caring about making up snow days (well into June when teachers and kids are burned out) and not valuing education at all. I personally think they should use the days they put on the calendar for this purpose, but there’s no need to be histrionic about it.

I'm not being "histrionic" about it and you might want to look up the history of that word and stop using it.

It's all of a piece. Teachers and kids get burned out in June because they stop adhering to a schedule and start just giving out treats and letting kids watch movies every day. Ever let your kid just have endless screen time and eat like crap for a few days? It's a good way to ensure they are tired, cranky, and incapable of doing anything useful. It's a self-created problem.

Christmas break is way too long. Ditto Thanksgiving. Add days back then. Move all the PD days to June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

Some might say that adding more days at the end of the school year is a babysitting service, too. You are clinging on to the extra days for what? Stop acting like this is unique to DCPS or modern education. Everyone knows the month of June is a joke. You think you were reading an anthology and having socratic seminars in the 3rd grade on June 15th in the 80's? Stop acting like it's some kind of inequity and just say you need babysitting.

I don't need babysitting. I just think if we've committed to educating kids a certain number of days during the year, we should do that. I don't get this weird attitude that it's impossible to educate kids in late June.

Here's a novel idea -- if kids are stir crazy and bored in June, try taking them outside and teaching them something there. People who think kids are "burned out" in June and you can't possibly teach them are people who think teaching means giving kids a worksheet. Yes, shocking that in late June kids would push back against spending an entire day seated in a stuffy classroom filling out worksheets. If only there were any other way to teach kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

There’s a huge space between not caring about making up snow days (well into June when teachers and kids are burned out) and not valuing education at all. I personally think they should use the days they put on the calendar for this purpose, but there’s no need to be histrionic about it.

I'm not being "histrionic" about it and you might want to look up the history of that word and stop using it.

It's all of a piece. Teachers and kids get burned out in June because they stop adhering to a schedule and start just giving out treats and letting kids watch movies every day. Ever let your kid just have endless screen time and eat like crap for a few days? It's a good way to ensure they are tired, cranky, and incapable of doing anything useful. It's a self-created problem.

Christmas break is way too long. Ditto Thanksgiving. Add days back then. Move all the PD days to June.

PP here and barring year round school, I'd be fine with this. Take shorter breaks during the year and no PD days and have teachers do like two weeks of PD in June after school is out. I have no special attachment to random breaks in October or March for PD. Have a shorter school year but more days in the classroom and then let schools handle PD all at once at the start of the summer. Teachers would get the same length summer break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

There’s a huge space between not caring about making up snow days (well into June when teachers and kids are burned out) and not valuing education at all. I personally think they should use the days they put on the calendar for this purpose, but there’s no need to be histrionic about it.

I'm not being "histrionic" about it and you might want to look up the history of that word and stop using it.

It's all of a piece. Teachers and kids get burned out in June because they stop adhering to a schedule and start just giving out treats and letting kids watch movies every day. Ever let your kid just have endless screen time and eat like crap for a few days? It's a good way to ensure they are tired, cranky, and incapable of doing anything useful. It's a self-created problem.

My kids are fine going to school in June. The problem is that the teachers are checked out. They're worse than the kids when it comes to school in June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is a really serious issue that no one pays attention to. our charter school doesnt come anywhere close to 180 days and no one cares. parents aren't paying attention and osse lets schools ignore the law.

They are just waiting until someone sues. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet by a family with a special needs child.

I dont think parents realize their schools are doing it. They just assume the school is following the rules.

This but there is also a contingent of parents who don't care and actually are happy when there is less school.

This group is larger when there is a debate over something like adding days to the school year for snow days. I remember tons of parents last year lobbying against the snow days because they had vacation plans right after school got out or "whatever it's not like kids learn anything the last week" or just not wanting to deal with school commutes for a couple more days. It's remarkable how many people just don't value education at all and view school as little more than a babysitting service or an annoying obligation. Depressing.

Some might say that adding more days at the end of the school year is a babysitting service, too. You are clinging on to the extra days for what? Stop acting like this is unique to DCPS or modern education. Everyone knows the month of June is a joke. You think you were reading an anthology and having socratic seminars in the 3rd grade on June 15th in the 80's? Stop acting like it's some kind of inequity and just say you need babysitting.

Everyone does not know that. It's a defeatist attitude people adopt to justify not making any effort.

I personally think we should switch to year round school with seasonal breaks to avoid this BS.

Is it though? Do you know how many year long parents complain about burning through their PTO? No camps, no programming? And the really rich just get to go on two week vacations every 6-8 weeks.

The system isn't perfect. No system is. It is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I am sure DCPS will add on the extra days and the parents who already have plans will rage and continue with their life plans. And you will get to send your child to school so they don't miss out on their socratic seminar.