APS cutting instructional days from calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course this matters. Days in school matter. The minimum hour thing is also crap. I was shocked to see from APE's newsletter link that Va has a minimum number of school hours far below other states, including the red state I grew up in. Why are we OK with schools being closed more days? Kids need to learn, especially now. Learning happens in school.

Our school suggested my kid do more dreambox and Lexia. I am so done with this app shit. I would apply to private but my kid has special needs so know cheap parochial option. Thinking about moving though just need to do research on districts that best support learning disabilities and don’t rely on apps for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has a calendar been recommended yet? It was supposed to have happened in November.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/C99PRJ65E025/$file/H-1%202022-23%20School%20Year%20Calendar.pdf
If link doesn's twork. Go to apsva.us and find it under the Board docs for Dec 2nd school board meeting. Click view agenda, scroll down to the calendar on the agenda and click there.

APS is aligning spring break with all the districts that have decided already. I wonder if FCPS will pull a last minute switch again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school is starting after school tutoring for kids who are behind. My kids are getting pulled out for more advanced material. I see our principal working hard to get kids what they need. This is a diverse N Arlington school. I hope this is happening in other elementary schools.

I know fleet is but I don’t know any details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS had something like 8 days over the state minimum, which is why the kids were able to miss two weeks of school from snow and not have any snow days

It’s 39.2 hours over the minimum.

OK that's like 5-6 school days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS had something like 8 days over the state minimum, which is why the kids were able to miss two weeks of school from snow and not have any snow days

It’s 39.2 hours over the minimum.

OK that's like 5-6 school days

But less than pre-pandemic hours and days. Why? There should be an explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a non-issue. APE is trying to make something out of nothing. Instructional hours are what count, not number of school days.

Eh, tell that to all the people who work jobs and have to find care on random Wednesdays.

That is a you problem, not an APS problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS had something like 8 days over the state minimum, which is why the kids were able to miss two weeks of school from snow and not have any snow days

It’s 39.2 hours over the minimum.

OK that's like 5-6 school days

But less than pre-pandemic hours and days. Why? There should be an explanation.

To relieve some of the stress on teachers, attract new teachers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has a calendar been recommended yet? It was supposed to have happened in November.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/C99PRJ65E025/$file/H-1%202022-23%20School%20Year%20Calendar.pdf
If link doesn's twork. Go to apsva.us and find it under the Board docs for Dec 2nd school board meeting. Click view agenda, scroll down to the calendar on the agenda and click there.

APS is aligning spring break with all the districts that have decided already. I wonder if FCPS will pull a last minute switch again.

FCPS is just starting to develop their 2022-2023 calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has a calendar been recommended yet? It was supposed to have happened in November.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/C99PRJ65E025/$file/H-1%202022-23%20School%20Year%20Calendar.pdf
If link doesn's twork. Go to apsva.us and find it under the Board docs for Dec 2nd school board meeting. Click view agenda, scroll down to the calendar on the agenda and click there.

APS is aligning spring break with all the districts that have decided already. I wonder if FCPS will pull a last minute switch again.

FCPS is just starting to develop their 2022-2023 calendar.

Exactly. That's what happened this year, APS aligned to all the other districts because FCPS said they would have spring break tied to Easter and then they switched after everyone else finalized their calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has a calendar been recommended yet? It was supposed to have happened in November.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/C99PRJ65E025/$file/H-1%202022-23%20School%20Year%20Calendar.pdf
If link doesn's twork. Go to apsva.us and find it under the Board docs for Dec 2nd school board meeting. Click view agenda, scroll down to the calendar on the agenda and click there.

APS is aligning spring break with all the districts that have decided already. I wonder if FCPS will pull a last minute switch again.

FCPS is just starting to develop their 2022-2023 calendar.

Exactly. That's what happened this year, APS aligned to all the other districts because FCPS said they would have spring break tied to Easter and then they switched after everyone else finalized their calendar.

Oh, I see. Thanks. So really, it wouldn't be a last minute switch for next year after making the change last year. Maybe they are planning on having a fixed spring break in the future.

FCPS used to develop their calendar a lot earlier than this.

[Anonymous]

Innovation is doing after school tutoring for kids behind

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Innovation is doing after school tutoring for kids behind

Who pays for that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course this matters. Days in school matter. The minimum hour thing is also crap. I was shocked to see from APE's newsletter link that Va has a minimum number of school hours far below other states, including the red state I grew up in. Why are we OK with schools being closed more days? Kids need to learn, especially now. Learning happens in school.

Our school suggested my kid do more dreambox and Lexia. I am so done with this app shit. I would apply to private but my kid has special needs so know cheap parochial option. Thinking about moving though just need to do research on districts that best support learning disabilities and don’t rely on apps for everything.

It’s 2021, lots (if not all) of the school districts use these educational applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course this matters. Days in school matter. The minimum hour thing is also crap. I was shocked to see from APE's newsletter link that Va has a minimum number of school hours far below other states, including the red state I grew up in. Why are we OK with schools being closed more days? Kids need to learn, especially now. Learning happens in school.

I hope this gets changed at the state level. We should have an hours AND days requirement. APS can’t be trusted to do more than the minimum. The current board has brought us increased class sizes and fewer days in school. And still they claim to be all about equity. Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS had something like 8 days over the state minimum, which is why the kids were able to miss two weeks of school from snow and not have any snow days

It’s 39.2 hours over the minimum.

OK that's like 5-6 school days

But less than pre-pandemic hours and days. Why? There should be an explanation.

To relieve some of the stress on teachers, attract new teachers, etc.

I can see why you would infer that but has that actually been offered as a reason? This is for next year. I hope school board has an honest and frank discussion about this before voting.