MCPS Considering Beginning 2020-21 School Calendar Year Before Labor Day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When will they finally decide? We're planning our vacation in August but can't buy tickets until we know when school will start.

Should be voted on at the Nov. 12th meeting. If they don't decide then, the next meeting is Dec. 3rd.

Thanks. Need to take the kids to DH's home country and international tickets for our entire family aren't getting any cheaper. Hopefully they'll decide on 11/12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have HS kids and want random days off for college visits and to help the kids unwind. Not to mention the extra time to get ready for their AP exams.

While I sympathize with the ES parents and child care (been there done that when we started the week before Labor Day when my own children were in ES), my vote is for before Labor day.

Why does it have to be one or the other? Why the system can not recognize that there are two groups of parents
with two distinct needs and why not find a solution that accommodate each respectively. Doable.

Because the system doesn't exist to meet parents' needs. As it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t they just pick one thing and be consistent? Enough already! Neither one is inherently better or worse. Make a choice, MCPS.

+1 million

Just leave it as is. Now that they've been starting after Labor Day, just LEAVE it.

It's ridiculous that they won't finalize the school year schedule for next year, and it's already October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t they just pick one thing and be consistent? Enough already! Neither one is inherently better or worse. Make a choice, MCPS.

+1 million

Just leave it as is. Now that they've been starting after Labor Day, just LEAVE it.

It's ridiculous that they won't finalize the school year schedule for next year, and it's already October.

They *are* finalizing the calendar for next year. That is what is happening right now. It is always finalized in November for the following fall. Plenty of notice for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will they finally decide? We're planning our vacation in August but can't buy tickets until we know when school will start.

The earliest start will be August 31st. I would be shocked if the start is later than Sept. 1.

You will be safe if you are back before August 31st.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we have a much earlier start time for elementary? I prefer early start time early end time. I dont care when they start the school year but, be consistent.

The reason for the late start (my kid's ES starts at 9:05am) is so high school kids don't have such an early start. They use the same buses for all.

I don't understand why it isn't switched so ES goes first and HS last. Studies have shown time and again that teenagers benefit from more sleep in the morning and later start times. Meanwhile, my 6yo is up at 630am every day. You end up with more traffic on the roads because most parents can't wait for the ES buses to come and end up driving their kids to the before care programs at the ES.

[Anonymous]

I would prefer a Sept 1 start date, I’ve gotten used to the Labor Day start date and my family loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we have a much earlier start time for elementary? I prefer early start time early end time. I dont care when they start the school year but, be consistent.

The reason for the late start (my kid's ES starts at 9:05am) is so high school kids don't have such an early start. They use the same buses for all.

I don't understand why it isn't switched so ES goes first and HS last. Studies have shown time and again that teenagers benefit from more sleep in the morning and later start times. Meanwhile, my 6yo is up at 630am every day. You end up with more traffic on the roads because most parents can't wait for the ES buses to come and end up driving their kids to the before care programs at the ES.

", concern
was expressed about elementary school students waiting at bus stops in the early morning and the
lack of after-school supervision for those elementary-age children currently cared for by older siblings who would get home from school later under this model. The later high school release
time complicates high school students’ after-school activities. Further, the later start for middle
school students raises the concern that students without sufficient morning supervision may have
difficulty getting ready for school, making the bus, or getting to school on their own. "

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/pdf/Bell%20Times%20Analysis%20Addl%20Options%20Jan2015.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer a Sept 1 start date, I’ve gotten used to the Labor Day start date and my family loves it.

Next fall, starting after Labor Day means starting Sept. 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we have a much earlier start time for elementary? I prefer early start time early end time. I dont care when they start the school year but, be consistent.

The reason for the late start (my kid's ES starts at 9:05am) is so high school kids don't have such an early start. They use the same buses for all.

I don't understand why it isn't switched so ES goes first and HS last. Studies have shown time and again that teenagers benefit from more sleep in the morning and later start times. Meanwhile, my 6yo is up at 630am every day. You end up with more traffic on the roads because most parents can't wait for the ES buses to come and end up driving their kids to the before care programs at the ES.

I agree, but people on this board repeatedly give 2 reasons: 1) older kids babysit younger kids and need to get out early, and 2) sports teams need to practice after school.

On the first, that’s why schools offer before and aftercare, and policy should be set for what is best for the students as a whole. On the second, it seems like teams could practice before school rather than after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we have a much earlier start time for elementary? I prefer early start time early end time. I dont care when they start the school year but, be consistent.

The reason for the late start (my kid's ES starts at 9:05am) is so high school kids don't have such an early start. They use the same buses for all.

I don't understand why it isn't switched so ES goes first and HS last. Studies have shown time and again that teenagers benefit from more sleep in the morning and later start times. Meanwhile, my 6yo is up at 630am every day. You end up with more traffic on the roads because most parents can't wait for the ES buses to come and end up driving their kids to the before care programs at the ES.

I agree, but people on this board repeatedly give 2 reasons: 1) older kids babysit younger kids and need to get out early, and 2) sports teams need to practice after school.

On the first, that’s why schools offer before and aftercare, and policy should be set for what is best for the students as a whole. On the second, it seems like teams could practice before school rather than after.

School after-care: $$$
Older-sibling after-care: free

And if teams practice before school, there goes the whole more-sleep-in-the-morning thing.

[Anonymous]

Are they taking public comments on the calendar options now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer a Sept 1 start date, I’ve gotten used to the Labor Day start date and my family loves it.

That’s not after Labor Day next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we have a much earlier start time for elementary? I prefer early start time early end time. I dont care when they start the school year but, be consistent.

The reason for the late start (my kid's ES starts at 9:05am) is so high school kids don't have such an early start. They use the same buses for all.

I don't understand why it isn't switched so ES goes first and HS last. Studies have shown time and again that teenagers benefit from more sleep in the morning and later start times. Meanwhile, my 6yo is up at 630am every day. You end up with more traffic on the roads because most parents can't wait for the ES buses to come and end up driving their kids to the before care programs at the ES.

I agree, but people on this board repeatedly give 2 reasons: 1) older kids babysit younger kids and need to get out early, and 2) sports teams need to practice after school.

On the first, that’s why schools offer before and aftercare, and policy should be set for what is best for the students as a whole. On the second, it seems like teams could practice before school rather than after.

School after-care: $$$
Older-sibling after-care: free

And if teams practice before school, there goes the whole more-sleep-in-the-morning thing.

On your first point, most kids don’t have an older sibling to watch them. Do not set policy that affects the ability of ALL kids to do well based on the interests of a few. If money is an issue for people with low incomes, expand subsidies for aftercare.

On your second, yes but that would only be for the kids participating in sports that season. The rest of the high schoolers and middle schoolers would be able to sleep in. Right now you are letting no one get adequate sleep based on the needs of athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t they just pick one thing and be consistent? Enough already! Neither one is inherently better or worse. Make a choice, MCPS.

+1 million

Just leave it as is. Now that they've been starting after Labor Day, just LEAVE it.

It's ridiculous that they won't finalize the school year schedule for next year, and it's already October.

They *are* finalizing the calendar for next year. That is what is happening right now. It is always finalized in November for the following fall. Plenty of notice for most people.

+1
It is being finalized the same time as always.