How DO we get the calendar changed?
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Anonymous
No one has shown a connection between additional TW/SP days leading to a 300 day school year and higher teacher morale. Maybe we get higher teacher morale by having a longer summer than having President’s Day off. The other thread (and Dunne’s email) show a whole lot of schools with only two TW days— do you have data showing FCPS has higher morale? |
Anonymous
There’s a lot of measurable data missing that has nothing to do with morale. I’d like a breakdown of how schools operating on 2 teacher workdays distribute planning time throughout the year before we determine it’s something FCPS can emulate. They likely can do it but I doubt the solution is as simple as “have fewer days.” Something else might have to give. |
Anonymous
No data was presented to anyone before adopting this irrational schedule. FCPS can emulate it, because in years past, it is similar to schedules we already had. |
Anonymous
Why? |
Anonymous
Okay, but I’m looking at FCPS calendars from 20 years ago and they still have 5 student holidays throughout the school year. In the 26-27 school year they’ll have 7 (6 if Indigenous People day is removed) and in 27-28 year they would have 8 (which I’m sure will also be whittled down to 6 because Oct 1 is off for seemingly no reason and March 6 is only off because it’s the day before the presidential primary.) Never have they had only 2 planning days. |
Anonymous
Two may not be the ultimate goal. There were 11 this year, not counting the ones before the school year started. A post suggested doubling two with federal holidays (not removing them) and a response had hysterics. |
Anonymous
Okay, I don’t. Research is mixed on this and it just doesn’t really matter that much to student learning. Here is quote from Paul Hipple who did a study on it. “Well, it is basically the same 175, 180 days spread out differently across the year. And since total instruction doesn't increase, total learning doesn't increase either.“ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-pros-and-cons-of-schools-ditching-a-long-summer-break At the end of the day, it seems, the kids make around the same amount of progress regardless of when they have school and it is the adults who are stressing about it. |
Anonymous
There isn’t data except to say it doesn’t matter. We also had a lot of surveys about the calendar several years ago. You can ask to see the data again or do a google search. You must be a new parent and dont’ remember. It was kind of tiring and all the school systems sort of decided to do multiple years at a time because of how long and involved the process was. |
Anonymous
Here’s an article on the approval that includes the 2025-26 school year: https://northernvirginiamag.com/family/education/2023/02/10/fairfax-co-school-board-passes-calendar/ Basically, it was February and FCPS didn’t have an approved calendar for the upcoming school year. Families were rightfully annoyed. Reid did her usual bit of proposing a mess of things and then at the last minute releasing a completely different draft right before the board was supposed to vote on it. The proposed 25-26 calendar was deeply unpopular then and not surprisingly is deeply unpopular in practice. |
Anonymous
Right but look at Merren here: “Hunter Mill District Rep. Melanie K. Meren said she was voting for the school calendar “because we have to have a calendar.” “And for my colleagues who are going to vote no, you can only vote no if people like me vote yes in order to keep this school system going,” Meren said. Meren said she was “perplexed” as to why the board’s debate Thursday night couldn’t have happened during its work session.” At that point, what is stopping her from saying that she had an amendment that the board will take the first two years, but not the last ones. Then you have a calendar, for the next two years? And can work on the 25-26 one. |
Anonymous
I’m a teacher. If you ask my opinion, I’ll tell you I want a shorter summer. As it is, I am a teacher 10 months a year and a parent for 2 months. I spend more time focusing on others’ children during the school year and my own kids take a backseat to my job. I’d like more balance, giving me the chance to be a parent during the year, too. That can only occur if my job stops taking so many of my off-hours. I’m actually a huge supporter of year-round schooling since I would be able to more strategically use breaks for planning. |
Anonymous
| School holidays that mirror federal holidays reduce the scheduling gap for working parents. Also organizations now understand the rhythm of spring, summer, Thanksgiving and winter breaks. Parents have spent decades communicating this to organizations. There is some in built flexibility or slower rhythms during these times. Bad weather days are always unpredictable. the half days, additional teacher workdays, and religious holidays needs to be adjusted. |
Anonymous
Few private companies observe all Federal holidays, so this is no longer the case. This is another demographic shift in Fairfax County. With growth of private companies in Tysons and Reston, parents aren’t all Feds anymore. I’ve only ever gotten Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Memorial Day off during the school year. |
Anonymous
But no one asked. This is a thread about improving the calendar for a different constituency— children and families. You could start a thread about how we could get your round schooling. |
Anonymous
Nice one. Some of us are BOTH teachers and PARENTS. The PP said “ I want TEACHERS to have a longer summer break to spend with their families.” Not all teachers want that. I guess we teachers should just tell parents what we want for them too and that they can’t have an opinion? |