how do we get APS to rethink 13 snow days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Except APS isn’t doing 180 days. They added 2 additional days off in November (last minute for teacher training), so they’re at 178. Plus all the half days… Go through the calendar and count the early release days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always pay for private school?

I don’t understand the people who post this. Do you think you’re cute?

No, just realistic. If you can’t afford private, take your government cheese and be grateful. There are many things wrong with public education. Having a few extra snow days isn’t it.

They won’t be happy with private if they want fewer days.

You have no idea what you’re talking about. The joke is, the more you pay, the less you go.

My kids are in private and they have more school days and a more consistent schedule. It’s one of the reasons we went private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always pay for private school?

I don’t understand the people who post this. Do you think you’re cute?

No, just realistic. If you can’t afford private, take your government cheese and be grateful. There are many things wrong with public education. Having a few extra snow days isn’t it.

They won’t be happy with private if they want fewer days.

You have no idea what you’re talking about. The joke is, the more you pay, the less you go.

My kids are in private and they have more school days and a more consistent schedule. It’s one of the reasons we went private.

Licensed teachers are my priority. To each his own!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always pay for private school?

I don’t understand the people who post this. Do you think you’re cute?

No, just realistic. If you can’t afford private, take your government cheese and be grateful. There are many things wrong with public education. Having a few extra snow days isn’t it.

They won’t be happy with private if they want fewer days.

You have no idea what you’re talking about. The joke is, the more you pay, the less you go.

My kids are in private and they have more school days and a more consistent schedule. It’s one of the reasons we went private.

Licensed teachers are my priority. To each his own!

That's a weird flex since public schools are hiring more provisionally licensed teachers. Pretty happy with our choices every time our neighbors tell me their school is closed again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always pay for private school?

I don’t understand the people who post this. Do you think you’re cute?

No, just realistic. If you can’t afford private, take your government cheese and be grateful. There are many things wrong with public education. Having a few extra snow days isn’t it.

They won’t be happy with private if they want fewer days.

You have no idea what you’re talking about. The joke is, the more you pay, the less you go.

My kids are in private and they have more school days and a more consistent schedule. It’s one of the reasons we went private.

Ask someone who goes to Sidwell, GDS, STA/NCS 😆

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always pay for private school?

I don’t understand the people who post this. Do you think you’re cute?

No, just realistic. If you can’t afford private, take your government cheese and be grateful. There are many things wrong with public education. Having a few extra snow days isn’t it.

They won’t be happy with private if they want fewer days.

You have no idea what you’re talking about. The joke is, the more you pay, the less you go.

My kids are in private and they have more school days and a more consistent schedule. It’s one of the reasons we went private.

Licensed teachers are my priority. To each his own!

Teacher licensure means very little. I’d take small class sizes any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

Public school is public. Taxpayer funded. To educate kids. We just had 2 weeks off. Calendar shows another half day in January and then another 4 day weekend at end of the month. Not APE and my kids don't need 8 more days off. They need to be in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

Public school is public. Taxpayer funded. To educate kids. We just had 2 weeks off. Calendar shows another half day in January and then another 4 day weekend at end of the month. Not APE and my kids don't need 8 more days off. They need to be in school.

I’m ok with it. My kids needed the down time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

Public school is public. Taxpayer funded. To educate kids. We just had 2 weeks off. Calendar shows another half day in January and then another 4 day weekend at end of the month. Not APE and my kids don't need 8 more days off. They need to be in school.

I’m ok with it. My kids needed the down time.

+1. I hate that they keep adding minutes to the school day. My elementary school (30 years ago) was 9-3. I don’t think elementary school kids need to be in school for 7 hours a day. It’s too long. So, yeah, I’m happy for any snow days we get, especially since we haven’t had any for the past 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

Public school is public. Taxpayer funded. To educate kids. We just had 2 weeks off. Calendar shows another half day in January and then another 4 day weekend at end of the month. Not APE and my kids don't need 8 more days off. They need to be in school.

I’m ok with it. My kids needed the down time.

+1. I hate that they keep adding minutes to the school day. My elementary school (30 years ago) was 9-3. I don’t think elementary school kids need to be in school for 7 hours a day. It’s too long. So, yeah, I’m happy for any snow days we get, especially since we haven’t had any for the past 2 years.

We had two snow days January 2024

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But wait, APS... that's CRAZY. VA law says you need to have kids in school 5.5 hours per day x 18- days. 180 x 5.5 = 990 hours, the required number of hours.

APS has kids in school 6 hours 50 minutes. That's way longer than 5 hours 30 minutes.

You should have way more than just 13 extra days. What am I missing here?

The time in school requirement instructional time and doesn't include passing time, recess, lunch, etc. it's only instructional time.

When I was a kid we had used too many snow days so my VA district cut 1 minute from the passing time between every class to meet the requirement. But then we were all just 1 minute late to our next class because the hallways were crowded and we couldn't change classes in 2.5 minutes. Just stupid.

That 5.5 hours includes everything (passing time, recess) except lunch.

VAC20-132-150. Standard school year and school day.
A. The standard school year shall be 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours. The standard school day, including passing time for class changes and excluding breaks for meals, shall average a minimum of 5-1/2 instructional hours for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Recess may be included in the calculation of required instructional hours for elementary school, provided that recess does not exceed 15% of the required instructional hours.

B. All students in kindergarten through grade 12 shall maintain a full day schedule of classes (5-1/2 hours), unless a waiver is granted in accordance with policies defined by the local school board.

So OK, lunch is what - 30 minutes? So the school day needs to be at least 6 hours long, but APS makes it 6 hours 50 minutes. So 50 minutes more than the law requires x180days

Right that's what the APEs screamed for. More time in school. I think they view school as child care, also they don't seem to be able to handle their own kids at home. Remember OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOW?!

Public school is public. Taxpayer funded. To educate kids. We just had 2 weeks off. Calendar shows another half day in January and then another 4 day weekend at end of the month. Not APE and my kids don't need 8 more days off. They need to be in school.

Go complain to the weather gods. That's who you are angry with.

[Anonymous]

The APEs and their open up friends lobbied the govt hard and their Gov youngkin pushed through the law against virtual instruction. So that's why APS has to have a lot of built in snow days, can't rely on virtual when it snows.