Tell DCPS to start school 8/31 or after

[Anonymous]

I like the current schedule and starting In August. It is not what I experienced as a kid, but it is all my kid knows. He is fine with it, plus right about this time in the summer, he is getting sick of camps and is ready to be back in his routine with his pals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Calendars/DCPS+Calendar+for+School+Year+2015-2016

They are scheduled to start school 2 weeks before Labor Day when most other school districts in the country start after Labor Day.

Do you have data to support the bolded?

Pretty much all of the South East other than VA starts in mid August. MoCo schools start before Labor Day. I'm not sure about the rest of the country.

Los Angeles Unified starts on August 18th, SF Unified on August 17th. Seattle starts on 9/3. Minneapolis starts on 8/24. NYC doesn't start until September 9th, but they go until June 28th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are pissed about it, send your kid to private.

+1. Alternatively move to VA, MD or choose a charter school that doesn't follow DCPS's calendar.

New poster. Sorry, but this is always and everywhere a bullshit response to someone making legitimate complaints about DC government. For decades, this was the stock response: "if you don't like the crap way things are done in DC, why don't you leave". And guess what, many followed your advice. See: "white flight".

I am glad that people are choosing to try to change things for the better in DC rather than opt out. Voice versus exit, if you studied any political science.

I agree with those who want a later/longer summer. Our family has the flexibility to enjoy it.

However, it is worth remembering that the nationwide school calendar was originally designed around the agricultural calendar. It's a bit of a historical artifact. Many parents in the non-agricultural labor force find it quite a challenge. In some European countries, winter break is longer and summer break shorter, and summer break coincides more closely with the 4-5 weeks of paid vacation most Europeans have. The long USA school summers are out of whack with the 2-3 weeks most Americans have.

Again, I fully support long summers and would sign that petition in a heartbeat. Just want people to see it from other people's shoes also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are pissed about it, send your kid to private.

+1. Alternatively move to VA, MD or choose a charter school that doesn't follow DCPS's calendar.

New poster. Sorry, but this is always and everywhere a bullshit response to someone making legitimate complaints about DC government. For decades, this was the stock response: "if you don't like the crap way things are done in DC, why don't you leave". And guess what, many followed your advice. See: "white flight".

I am glad that people are choosing to try to change things for the better in DC rather than opt out. Voice versus exit, if you studied any political science.

I agree with those who want a later/longer summer. Our family has the flexibility to enjoy it.

However, it is worth remembering that the nationwide school calendar was originally designed around the agricultural calendar. It's a bit of a historical artifact. Many parents in the non-agricultural labor force find it quite a challenge. In some European countries, winter break is longer and summer break shorter, and summer break coincides more closely with the 4-5 weeks of paid vacation most Europeans have. The long USA school summers are out of whack with the 2-3 weeks most Americans have.

Again, I fully support long summers and would sign that petition in a heartbeat. Just want people to see it from other people's shoes also.

It's true--fighting for voting rights for all DC citizens because it's a core principle of our representative democracy is totally the same as whining because the DCPS school calendar doesn't align with your family's vacation schedule.

Please. Not one person arguing for a later start is talking about the common good here. It's all about personal convenience and privilege.

[Anonymous]

I'm far more annoyed with spring break being so late in April, year after year after year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm far more annoyed with spring break being so late in April, year after year after year.

You are in the minority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are pissed about it, send your kid to private.

+1. Alternatively move to VA, MD or choose a charter school that doesn't follow DCPS's calendar.

Moving to MD because you're pissed the DC schools start before Labor Day, would win you some kind of stupidity award, given that MD schools also start before Labor Day.

[Anonymous]

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Calendars/DCPS+Calendar+for+School+Year+2015-2016

They are scheduled to start school 2 weeks before Labor Day when most other school districts in the country start after Labor Day.


I'm with you. DCPS should do exactly what the other school districts do. Like you, I can't understand what is so difficult about DCPS consulting the numerous other school districts in the nation before they make their calendar. I have a friend who works in Boston Public Schools, and she told me that their BPS coordinates with Seattle Public Schools on developing their calendar.

Why on earth would BPS coordinate their calendar to the Seattle Public Schools? This makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

We are no longer a farming society where we need our kids out in the fields during the harvest.

[Anonymous]

This is never going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Calendars/DCPS+Calendar+for+School+Year+2015-2016

They are scheduled to start school 2 weeks before Labor Day when most other school districts in the country start after Labor Day.


I'm with you. DCPS should do exactly what the other school districts do. Like you, I can't understand what is so difficult about DCPS consulting the numerous other school districts in the nation before they make their calendar. I have a friend who works in Boston Public Schools, and she told me that their BPS coordinates with Seattle Public Schools on developing their calendar.

Why on earth would BPS coordinate their calendar to the Seattle Public Schools? This makes no sense.

It was some weird Super Bowl bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the current schedule and starting In August. It is not what I experienced as a kid, but it is all my kid knows. He is fine with it, plus right about this time in the summer, he is getting sick of camps and is ready to be back in his routine with his pals.

+1,000,000

I have three kids. By the first week in August they are all crying about wanting to go back to school so they can spend time with there friends. This is a stupid thread and OP obviously does not have upper grade kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Calendars/DCPS+Calendar+for+School+Year+2015-2016

They are scheduled to start school 2 weeks before Labor Day when most other school districts in the country start after Labor Day.


I'm with you. DCPS should do exactly what the other school districts do. Like you, I can't understand what is so difficult about DCPS consulting the numerous other school districts in the nation before they make their calendar. I have a friend who works in Boston Public Schools, and she told me that their BPS coordinates with Seattle Public Schools on developing their calendar.

Why on earth would BPS coordinate their calendar to the Seattle Public Schools? This makes no sense.

It was some weird Super Bowl bet.

This made me laugh out loud. Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

Wouldnt it be awesome if school started and ended two weeks later, especialy as many camps end by mid-August and jpkids would get to enjoy spending the week leading to Indepedence Day in school. Terrific idea. What parents should be outraged about are the excessive number of days off. One week for Winter Break is sufficient. And do teachers really need half-days to complete report cards and a day a month for PD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Calendars/DCPS+Calendar+for+School+Year+2015-2016

They are scheduled to start school 2 weeks before Labor Day when most other school districts in the country start after Labor Day.


I'm with you. DCPS should do exactly what the other school districts do. Like you, I can't understand what is so difficult about DCPS consulting the numerous other school districts in the nation before they make their calendar. I have a friend who works in Boston Public Schools, and she told me that their BPS coordinates with Seattle Public Schools on developing their calendar.

Why on earth would BPS coordinate their calendar to the Seattle Public Schools? This makes no sense.

I'm not the PP but why on earth does it make no sense? Why are the scheduling issues different? School districts often consult others around the country when setting policies.