More recess for FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they all exceed the required amount bya good amount.

If they can count recess as instructional time could they shorten the school day? I’m not saying they should, but could they? They already schedule extra hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like they all exceed the required amount bya good amount.

If they can count recess as instructional time could they shorten the school day? I’m not saying they should, but could they? They already schedule extra hours.

Yes they can. It's documented here.

The guidelines for determining the Standard School Year Calendar are outlined in Regulation 1344.

Makeup days may be used to ensure 990 hours of instruction. Missed days, delayed openings, and early dismissals must be considered in the calculation of these hours.

State code requires school districts to make up the first five missed days of school, and then requires only every other day of missed school to be made up. Currently, FCPS has the equivalent of 12 days built into the calendar.

https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/calendars/2018-2019-fcps-standard-school-year-calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - sorry to post and run. I was specifically referring to the bill that said that schools can count recess as instructional time. It was something a group called Virginians for Recess (or something like that) lobbied really hard for. My child is starting Kindergarten in September, so I'm not very familiar with the school system at all - but I have read that although recess time varies across school, it is still pretty limited.

Someone above mentioned that FCPS was unlikely to increase recess time without advocacy -- how does one get involved in this stuff at the district level?

Why don't you figure out how much recess your school has and how teachers, parents, and the principal feel about it first. Go to a PTA meeting and bring up the issue and see what the feedback is. I can't tell you how annoying it is as a parent in FCPS to watch parents of rising kindergarteners who know nothing about the school system advocate for something based on heresy. We all have busy lives and it's unproductive to spend time educating people that want to make a point before knowing enough information on a subject. If this is an issue, parents of actual students with experience will be bringing up issues. Many people around here have 2-5 kids and will have a child that is both a rising kindergarten and one who has already gone through FCPS to some degree.

I don't find it annoying all. Many parents are so busy they really don't advocate even if they believe in an issue. And it's pretty common knowledge that recess is limited in Ffx schools. I appreciate that parents want to work toward change now so their kids can actually benefit from the change. Kindergarten kids are arguably the most in need of increases in recess...

Are you kidding? There are around 187,000 students in FCPS. It's the 10th largest school system in the country. We're not in some rural area. If there is an issue, there will be parents that show up to advocate. We don't need preschool parents to show up and advocate for things within FCPS who haven't even bothered to get any actual data. And parents who are happy with the current system shouldn't have to take off time from their own days to refute baseless claims.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+mbr+S76

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+sum+HB1419

Thank you, Delegate Delaney from Centreville, VA and Senator Petersen from Fairfax, VA.

[Anonymous]

Also the state law right now says core instruction must be 75% of 990 hours or 742.5 hours. This equates to 4.125 hours per day in a 180 school day calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also the state law right now says core instruction must be 75% of 990 hours or 742.5 hours. This equates to 4.125 hours per day in a 180 school day calendar.

Those bills shortens instructional time from 742.5 hours to 680 hours or 3.78 hour per day in a 180 school day calendar. Recess as part of that bill can count towards 15% of that 680 hours leaving a required core instructional time of 578 hours per year or 3.21 hours per day.

If you were to take out the 12 extra days built into the calendar in terms of hours which equates to about 50 core instructional hours (about 16 minutes per day), that would further reduce core instructional time per day to 2.93 hours.

So in theory between those bill changes and the 12 extra days already built into the calendar, FCPS could shorten core instructional time by more than an hour for our students. And the state could start reducing spending stating that recess does not require the same funding as core education. Which subject do we want to take out?

Such progress for Fairfax and Virginia (sarcasm).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - sorry to post and run. I was specifically referring to the bill that said that schools can count recess as instructional time. It was something a group called Virginians for Recess (or something like that) lobbied really hard for. My child is starting Kindergarten in September, so I'm not very familiar with the school system at all - but I have read that although recess time varies across school, it is still pretty limited.

Someone above mentioned that FCPS was unlikely to increase recess time without advocacy -- how does one get involved in this stuff at the district level?

Why don't you figure out how much recess your school has and how teachers, parents, and the principal feel about it first. Go to a PTA meeting and bring up the issue and see what the feedback is. I can't tell you how annoying it is as a parent in FCPS to watch parents of rising kindergarteners who know nothing about the school system advocate for something based on heresy. We all have busy lives and it's unproductive to spend time educating people that want to make a point before knowing enough information on a subject. If this is an issue, parents of actual students with experience will be bringing up issues. Many people around here have 2-5 kids and will have a child that is both a rising kindergarten and one who has already gone through FCPS to some degree.

Geez, sorry to inconvenience you. Sure hope my kid is not in school with yours, especially if they are as rude as you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - sorry to post and run. I was specifically referring to the bill that said that schools can count recess as instructional time. It was something a group called Virginians for Recess (or something like that) lobbied really hard for. My child is starting Kindergarten in September, so I'm not very familiar with the school system at all - but I have read that although recess time varies across school, it is still pretty limited.

Someone above mentioned that FCPS was unlikely to increase recess time without advocacy -- how does one get involved in this stuff at the district level?

Why don't you figure out how much recess your school has and how teachers, parents, and the principal feel about it first. Go to a PTA meeting and bring up the issue and see what the feedback is. I can't tell you how annoying it is as a parent in FCPS to watch parents of rising kindergarteners who know nothing about the school system advocate for something based on heresy. We all have busy lives and it's unproductive to spend time educating people that want to make a point before knowing enough information on a subject. If this is an issue, parents of actual students with experience will be bringing up issues. Many people around here have 2-5 kids and will have a child that is both a rising kindergarten and one who has already gone through FCPS to some degree.

I don't find it annoying all. Many parents are so busy they really don't advocate even if they believe in an issue. And it's pretty common knowledge that recess is limited in Ffx schools. I appreciate that parents want to work toward change now so their kids can actually benefit from the change. Kindergarten kids are arguably the most in need of increases in recess...

Are you kidding? There are around 187,000 students in FCPS. It's the 10th largest school system in the country. We're not in some rural area. If there is an issue, there will be parents that show up to advocate. We don't need preschool parents to show up and advocate for things within FCPS who haven't even bothered to get any actual data. And parents who are happy with the current system shouldn't have to take off time from their own days to refute baseless claims.

How do you suggest parents get data without asking questions? I am asking questions here so that I can become a more informed parent once my child starts elementary school. I don't understand why you're being such a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - sorry to post and run. I was specifically referring to the bill that said that schools can count recess as instructional time. It was something a group called Virginians for Recess (or something like that) lobbied really hard for. My child is starting Kindergarten in September, so I'm not very familiar with the school system at all - but I have read that although recess time varies across school, it is still pretty limited.

Someone above mentioned that FCPS was unlikely to increase recess time without advocacy -- how does one get involved in this stuff at the district level?

Why don't you figure out how much recess your school has and how teachers, parents, and the principal feel about it first. Go to a PTA meeting and bring up the issue and see what the feedback is. I can't tell you how annoying it is as a parent in FCPS to watch parents of rising kindergarteners who know nothing about the school system advocate for something based on heresy. We all have busy lives and it's unproductive to spend time educating people that want to make a point before knowing enough information on a subject. If this is an issue, parents of actual students with experience will be bringing up issues. Many people around here have 2-5 kids and will have a child that is both a rising kindergarten and one who has already gone through FCPS to some degree.

I don't find it annoying all. Many parents are so busy they really don't advocate even if they believe in an issue. And it's pretty common knowledge that recess is limited in Ffx schools. I appreciate that parents want to work toward change now so their kids can actually benefit from the change. Kindergarten kids are arguably the most in need of increases in recess...

Are you kidding? There are around 187,000 students in FCPS. It's the 10th largest school system in the country. We're not in some rural area. If there is an issue, there will be parents that show up to advocate. We don't need preschool parents to show up and advocate for things within FCPS who haven't even bothered to get any actual data. And parents who are happy with the current system shouldn't have to take off time from their own days to refute baseless claims.

How do you suggest parents get data without asking questions? I am asking questions here so that I can become a more informed parent once my child starts elementary school. I don't understand why you're being such a jerk.

You say you want a certain amount of recess and want to advocate for that, but you don't even know how much recess they have at your school or whether it is even an issue among parents there. You admit you know very little about the school system. I'm not being a jerk. I'm saying find out whether it is an issue at your school first and how other parents, teachers, and administration feel about the issue. Find out what may be eliminated if they do increase recess and be sure you're ok with that elimination as well as the other students and parents. Don't just show up at a hearing and advocate for something you know little about.

[Anonymous]

I'll give you an example of my own. One of my children will start high school soon. I have some concerns at the high school level about certain classes and the way they are being taught. I'm not going to show up at a school board meeting to advocate for any change till I'm fully aware how parents, the PTA, the principal, and some teachers feel about those classes and know some details on those classes. Why should my fears about the future that I know little about trump a parent's actual experience of that class? That parent would have no reason to go down to the school board and advocate against a change that they are likely perfectly fine with. And mine is only based on a presumed fear about something.

[Anonymous]

NP: the reason to show up early and often...I have a K in FCPS. It is HARD to find out what is going on! This means, those of us opting into public schools (who might otherwise choose private) are essentially taking a leap of faith about what our local school is offering. Those of us who have been reading about childhood development since we were pregnant have opinions on the type of eduction our children receive. This isn’t new. I agree there is a level of checking in with what is going on around you, but I can assure you the more recess group isn’t made up of only infant and preschool parents...Here’s the other thing, you’re right! Advocacy takes time. The school board is being fair in responding that to implement these changes takes time, money and planning. So for someone who is just starting the school system. Pre-k is the perfect time to get involved, maybe by the time my oldest is in 3rd grade they’ll have changed the protocol for entering K. Meanwhile, when my 3rd grader gets to middle school suddenly it will be implemented for all of elementary...

I’d also like to add, being in public school...there is a difference between what we are told as parents by the administration and what happens in practice. Supposedly my kid has 20min of outdoor play a day...but I often hear reported from my kid that they had to go in early, or went out late or didn’t go out at all, sometimes because of the weather, but just as frequently it’s because so and so didn’t clean up, or they had a guest speaker coming in, or they ran out of time doing something else. I hear you on the lost educational time, and it is distressing to read the limited number of hours spent on education time...I’m not personally sure what the best answer is, but I know keeping our kids inside isn’t it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP: the reason to show up early and often...I have a K in FCPS. It is HARD to find out what is going on! This means, those of us opting into public schools (who might otherwise choose private) are essentially taking a leap of faith about what our local school is offering. Those of us who have been reading about childhood development since we were pregnant have opinions on the type of eduction our children receive. This isn’t new. I agree there is a level of checking in with what is going on around you, but I can assure you the more recess group isn’t made up of only infant and preschool parents...Here’s the other thing, you’re right! Advocacy takes time. The school board is being fair in responding that to implement these changes takes time, money and planning. So for someone who is just starting the school system. Pre-k is the perfect time to get involved, maybe by the time my oldest is in 3rd grade they’ll have changed the protocol for entering K. Meanwhile, when my 3rd grader gets to middle school suddenly it will be implemented for all of elementary...

I’d also like to add, being in public school...there is a difference between what we are told as parents by the administration and what happens in practice. Supposedly my kid has 20min of outdoor play a day...but I often hear reported from my kid that they had to go in early, or went out late or didn’t go out at all, sometimes because of the weather, but just as frequently it’s because so and so didn’t clean up, or they had a guest speaker coming in, or they ran out of time doing something else. I hear you on the lost educational time, and it is distressing to read the limited number of hours spent on education time...I’m not personally sure what the best answer is, but I know keeping our kids inside isn’t it.

But for instance if this is an issue for you, it's likely an issue for other parents and you have first hand experience which that other person did not. I don't think administration is trying to give you wrong information. However if there is some special PTA speaker, it might make sense that some other areas of the school day are impacted. I'm sure recess isn't the only one. Figure out what the issue is at your school and what the barriers are to making change and what change will imply for other areas and then go advocate. PTA meetings are open to preschool parents. School board members are available to ask questions and they have the power to do the research needed within FCPS. There are ways to gather data from actual teachers and parents in the school system. Decisions made at a school board meeting tend to be decisions made for the entire school system. It's possible that your school does something different than another that can be fixed within that school or there may be an overall barrier within FCPS. Either way, if there is an issue, there will be existing parents that see the issue. I've seen the advocates for recess and most of them are preschool parents or parents of kindergarteners. However instead of advocating locally for half day K which would have saved the school system some money, they instead have been working at the state level to reduce core instructional hours and not just for kindergarten, but now for K-6. That was a dangerous move because there are many people at the state level (and local level) that want to reduce or not increase educational funding.

[Anonymous]

"Those of us who have been reading about childhood development since we were pregnant have opinions on the type of eduction our children receive."

Also please understand that all parents have been reading about childhood development and have opinions. There is nothing more annoying that a know it all first time parent. As you actually have a child though going through those years, you realize how those books and articles had biases and exaggerations in order to market those products.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They get home late, and it is quite challenging getting in a family dinner, homework, AND sufficient fresh air and activity not to mention fitting in anything like a class or music lesson.

Soooo, you think it is easier for the school to fit it in than the parent? How about giving up the class or music lesson? How about going out for a walk as a family before dinner?

This is the issue. Parents expect the school to get the kids outside, but they don't do it at home. How much time do your kids spend outside on the weekends? Or, are they at classes or in museums?

We don't do many lessons, and we do insist on outdoor out time every day. But it still is very hard with all the expectations on working families. And it is nearly dark in winter when my kids get off the bus. Yes, I think in seven hours spent in school time should be made for it. Young elementary kids are spent when they get home. They need breaks in the middle of the long school day and when the sun is out. Young kids need more than a couple 20 minute spurts of exercise. They should be spending an hour or two every day outside. Why are people such jerks about this? Do you really have a problem with elementary aged kids being provided 40 minutes of break time outside during the day?? Do you really not understand they need this developmentally? the school day as it currently goes in FCPS is not healthy for our kids.

In other parts of the world, ES kids have 2 blocks of recess 25 min each in 6-6:30 hrs of school. In those schools of less developed countries everyone understand young kids need outdoor play.

[Anonymous]

In other parts of the world, ES kids have 2 blocks of recess 25 min each in 6-6:30 hrs of school. In those schools of less developed countries everyone understand young kids need outdoor play.

Source?

I agree that kids need outdoor play, but one hour out of 6 hours of school? That leaves 5 hours for instruction. If they eat lunch, that is 41/2 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In other parts of the world, ES kids have 2 blocks of recess 25 min each in 6-6:30 hrs of school. In those schools of less developed countries everyone understand young kids need outdoor play.

Source?

I agree that kids need outdoor play, but one hour out of 6 hours of school? That leaves 5 hours for instruction. If they eat lunch, that is 41/2 hours.

The source are self experience and family members living there. Lunch is 45 min