MCPS School Year Extended by One Day to June 17; Final Three Days of the School Year Now Early Release Days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

Let the schools worry about learning outcomes and you work on your anger management and mental flexibility.

Yes, we can all be mentally flexible about our kids not learning, while MCPS staff try to "stick it" to the Gov for not giving them an extra 2 days of vacation. Anyone who is so lazy that working an extra day is a hardship, should quit.

I don’t think you understand how this works. A day in mid June is not a replacement for a day in February. Certain benchmarks have to be met each quarter. We had 3 fewer days than planned to meet those benchmarks in the second quarter. We had one day less than planned to meet the benchmarks in the third quarter. Giving us two extra days in the fourth quarter, after all the testing is over, when students are unlikely to show up because of previously made plans, does not make up for the missed instructional time. Maybe it would if we also changed the end dates for the quarters, but that would require further tinkering with the calendar because otherwise, the non instructional days teachers use to enter grades when a quarter ends would have to be changed as well.

[Anonymous]

MCPS just doesn't handle snow well, despite having snow days most years. I grew up in a NY area with far more snow, and they built those in to the system. There were 4 "extra" days included on the calendar in June. If it there were 4 snow days, you went to school until the last day on the calendar. If there were 2 snow days, the school district told parents by April that the last day of school was 2 day earlier.

But NY had none of this---"we know you already made plans, and don't expect you to show up for the half day stuff." There were 180 full days unless there was a Snowmageddon type situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

Let the schools worry about learning outcomes and you work on your anger management and mental flexibility.

Yes, we can all be mentally flexible about our kids not learning, while MCPS staff try to "stick it" to the Gov for not giving them an extra 2 days of vacation. Anyone who is so lazy that working an extra day is a hardship, should quit.

I don’t think you understand how this works. A day in mid June is not a replacement for a day in February. Certain benchmarks have to be met each quarter. We had 3 fewer days than planned to meet those benchmarks in the second quarter. We had one day less than planned to meet the benchmarks in the third quarter. Giving us two extra days in the fourth quarter, after all the testing is over, when students are unlikely to show up because of previously made plans, does not make up for the missed instructional time. Maybe it would if we also changed the end dates for the quarters, but that would require further tinkering with the calendar because otherwise, the non instructional days teachers use to enter grades when a quarter ends would have to be changed as well.

In other words your priority is test scores, not education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

+1 honestly how can people not see the connection between all this and our disgraceful literacy rates. I guess y'all are too busy blaming immigrants for your failures.

So your contention is that if our school year had been originally scheduled at 184 days, and we didn’t have to make up any snow days, we’d have higher literacy rates? If that’s not your point, then stop proclaiming that other people don’t get the connection between your much broader argument about school calendars in general, just because they’re commenting specifically on the days recently added to *MCPS’s 2024-2025 school year*.

. Many posters are clearly advocating for less instructional time, and against being required to spend time educating children. Disgusting .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

Let the schools worry about learning outcomes and you work on your anger management and mental flexibility.

Yes, we can all be mentally flexible about our kids not learning, while MCPS staff try to "stick it" to the Gov for not giving them an extra 2 days of vacation. Anyone who is so lazy that working an extra day is a hardship, should quit.

I don’t think you understand how this works. A day in mid June is not a replacement for a day in February. Certain benchmarks have to be met each quarter. We had 3 fewer days than planned to meet those benchmarks in the second quarter. We had one day less than planned to meet the benchmarks in the third quarter. Giving us two extra days in the fourth quarter, after all the testing is over, when students are unlikely to show up because of previously made plans, does not make up for the missed instructional time. Maybe it would if we also changed the end dates for the quarters, but that would require further tinkering with the calendar because otherwise, the non instructional days teachers use to enter grades when a quarter ends would have to be changed as well.

In other words your priority is test scores, not education

Assessments are required — and not by teachers. Teachers would LOVE more flexibility to adjust lesson plans for the benefit their students. Take it up with the powers that be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

+1 honestly how can people not see the connection between all this and our disgraceful literacy rates. I guess y'all are too busy blaming immigrants for your failures.

So your contention is that if our school year had been originally scheduled at 184 days, and we didn’t have to make up any snow days, we’d have higher literacy rates? If that’s not your point, then stop proclaiming that other people don’t get the connection between your much broader argument about school calendars in general, just because they’re commenting specifically on the days recently added to *MCPS’s 2024-2025 school year*.

. Many posters are clearly advocating for less instructional time, and against being required to spend time educating children. Disgusting .

Many private schools get 3 months summer break. How would you handle that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

+1 honestly how can people not see the connection between all this and our disgraceful literacy rates. I guess y'all are too busy blaming immigrants for your failures.

So your contention is that if our school year had been originally scheduled at 184 days, and we didn’t have to make up any snow days, we’d have higher literacy rates? If that’s not your point, then stop proclaiming that other people don’t get the connection between your much broader argument about school calendars in general, just because they’re commenting specifically on the days recently added to *MCPS’s 2024-2025 school year*.

. Many posters are clearly advocating for less instructional time, and against being required to spend time educating children. Disgusting .

The argument isn’t that we have too much instructional time and should decrease it; the argument is that tacking on two days at the end doesn’t actually allow for making up instructional time that was lost months earlier. Teachers had to rush through material and move on back in January and February. By June 13th, they’ve covered all the material. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing more that can be taught — but it does mean that whatever they could attempt to teach at that point isn’t part of the curriculum, so it would just be two days of ad hoc lessons for the few kids who show up. It’s not going to move the needle on kids’ academic progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most interesting part: "We know this is a change and although it is not entirely unexpected, we also realize that families may have already made plans. We understand this."

Like they can't quite bring themselves to say we know many of you won't show up, and that's OK.

Makes sense. They can’t say the quiet part aloud but if the state wants a big show of number of days, that’s what they will get

How dare the state demand a certain number of instructional days

My kids will show up, but they're definitely getting shortchanged on their 180 days of education this year.

It's almost like we should build in more than 2 extra days into the calendar! What's the worst that can happen, we don't use them and the kids get some extra education?

And next year they built in only one. Way to go, MCPS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

+1 honestly how can people not see the connection between all this and our disgraceful literacy rates. I guess y'all are too busy blaming immigrants for your failures.

So your contention is that if our school year had been originally scheduled at 184 days, and we didn’t have to make up any snow days, we’d have higher literacy rates? If that’s not your point, then stop proclaiming that other people don’t get the connection between your much broader argument about school calendars in general, just because they’re commenting specifically on the days recently added to *MCPS’s 2024-2025 school year*.

. Many posters are clearly advocating for less instructional time, and against being required to spend time educating children. Disgusting .

The argument isn’t that we have too much instructional time and should decrease it; the argument is that tacking on two days at the end doesn’t actually allow for making up instructional time that was lost months earlier. Teachers had to rush through material and move on back in January and February. By June 13th, they’ve covered all the material. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing more that can be taught — but it does mean that whatever they could attempt to teach at that point isn’t part of the curriculum, so it would just be two days of ad hoc lessons for the few kids who show up. It’s not going to move the needle on kids’ academic progress.

So to review with the current calendar and this year's snow days you had to "rush" to cover material. And you don't see any value to adding time to the school year because not every student will show up and each teacher will have to decide what to cover.

Do you not see then that MCPS needs to build more school days into the calendar in order to:
- meet the state requirement
- cover all the material and
- have students present to learn the material?

Afaik teachers haven't advocated for this though.

So zero sympathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS families want a 10 week summer. If people here were okay with a 9 week summer, we could have full days towards the end of the year.

Keep in mind that high schoolers (especially 10th and 11th graders who are taking lots of AP classes) are doing very little after AP exams are finished.

I have family in Loudoun county, and this is what their school district does.

No one has ever asked me how long of a break is desirable.

I know plenty of families that would be fine with a 9-week summer.

It is MCPS, not families, that insists on the longer summer break.

[Anonymous]

In other words the state requirement is not the problem. It is MCPS's choice to plan for the bare minimum of instructional time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS families want a 10 week summer. If people here were okay with a 9 week summer, we could have full days towards the end of the year.

Keep in mind that high schoolers (especially 10th and 11th graders who are taking lots of AP classes) are doing very little after AP exams are finished.

I have family in Loudoun county, and this is what their school district does.

No one has ever asked me how long of a break is desirable.

I know plenty of families that would be fine with a 9-week summer.

It is MCPS, not families, that insists on the longer summer break.

They have surveyed families on starting school two weeks before Labor Day, and that option is very unpopular.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher I would prefer starting earlier in August and ending earlier in June. It would give more prep time for AP classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

+1 honestly how can people not see the connection between all this and our disgraceful literacy rates. I guess y'all are too busy blaming immigrants for your failures.

So your contention is that if our school year had been originally scheduled at 184 days, and we didn’t have to make up any snow days, we’d have higher literacy rates? If that’s not your point, then stop proclaiming that other people don’t get the connection between your much broader argument about school calendars in general, just because they’re commenting specifically on the days recently added to *MCPS’s 2024-2025 school year*.

. Many posters are clearly advocating for less instructional time, and against being required to spend time educating children. Disgusting .

The argument isn’t that we have too much instructional time and should decrease it; the argument is that tacking on two days at the end doesn’t actually allow for making up instructional time that was lost months earlier. Teachers had to rush through material and move on back in January and February. By June 13th, they’ve covered all the material. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing more that can be taught — but it does mean that whatever they could attempt to teach at that point isn’t part of the curriculum, so it would just be two days of ad hoc lessons for the few kids who show up. It’s not going to move the needle on kids’ academic progress.

So to review with the current calendar and this year's snow days you had to "rush" to cover material. And you don't see any value to adding time to the school year because not every student will show up and each teacher will have to decide what to cover.

Do you not see then that MCPS needs to build more school days into the calendar in order to:
- meet the state requirement
- cover all the material and
- have students present to learn the material?

Afaik teachers haven't advocated for this though.

So zero sympathy.

I’m the pp you’re replying to. I’m just a parent, not a teacher or an MCPS employee. I was explaining why tacking days onto the end of the year, after the entire curriculum has been covered, doesn’t make up for lost instructional time from months earlier. I have long advocated both starting school earlier in August and building more than 2 snow days into the calendar.

But just as some of us would prefer to start earlier, others strongly oppose an earlier start. There isn’t universal agreement on when to start, how long summer break should be, which religious holidays should not be instructional days, etc. I don’t think teachers are a monolith; I’m sure they also have different calendar preferences. However, I seriously doubt most of them prefer tacking on makeup days to the end of the school year over having more of them built into the calendar.

You’re just being argumentative and targeting teachers. They don’t propose or approve the calendar. They didn’t choose the minimum number of mandated instructional days. They didn’t impose the requirements for assessments. They are subject to a rigid framework. Most of them would love more flexibility to tinker with lesson plans to suit their students’ needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By adding 3 half days at the end of the year when seniors are done, AP tests are long over, and camps will have begun, it's basically a big F** to the State (for not waiving) 2 days!

It’s a big FU at the parents. They could have cancelled one of the professional development days after the snow days…

No it’s not. If anything, the only people who really need to go Monday and Tuesday are teachers and they already sorta knew that when the year was previously extended to the Monday. If you need childcare coverage those half days, send your kid. If you don’t or it’s easier for you to arrange full day coverage elsewhere, don’t send them. If you want to travel that week, they’ve all but given their blessing to proceed with previously made plans. There will not be teaching and learning those days whether you send your kids or not. If you’re looking for childcare ideas there will be lots of 14/15 year olds who are kind of too old for camp but too young for jobs who would probably happily babysit your kids in the afternoon for some Apple cash.

This isn't about childcare coverage you dismissive fool, it's about wanting kids to learn. 180 days a year is already less than what other countries provide their elementary/secondary students, and we lose so much of it with this half day garbage, testing for MAP, MCAP, in-school days when teachers are grading and turn on videos etc...

+1 honestly how can people not see the connection between all this and our disgraceful literacy rates. I guess y'all are too busy blaming immigrants for your failures.

So your contention is that if our school year had been originally scheduled at 184 days, and we didn’t have to make up any snow days, we’d have higher literacy rates? If that’s not your point, then stop proclaiming that other people don’t get the connection between your much broader argument about school calendars in general, just because they’re commenting specifically on the days recently added to *MCPS’s 2024-2025 school year*.

. Many posters are clearly advocating for less instructional time, and against being required to spend time educating children. Disgusting .

The argument isn’t that we have too much instructional time and should decrease it; the argument is that tacking on two days at the end doesn’t actually allow for making up instructional time that was lost months earlier. Teachers had to rush through material and move on back in January and February. By June 13th, they’ve covered all the material. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing more that can be taught — but it does mean that whatever they could attempt to teach at that point isn’t part of the curriculum, so it would just be two days of ad hoc lessons for the few kids who show up. It’s not going to move the needle on kids’ academic progress.

So to review with the current calendar and this year's snow days you had to "rush" to cover material. And you don't see any value to adding time to the school year because not every student will show up and each teacher will have to decide what to cover.

Do you not see then that MCPS needs to build more school days into the calendar in order to:
- meet the state requirement
- cover all the material and
- have students present to learn the material?

Afaik teachers haven't advocated for this though.

So zero sympathy.

I’m the pp you’re replying to. I’m just a parent, not a teacher or an MCPS employee. I was explaining why tacking days onto the end of the year, after the entire curriculum has been covered, doesn’t make up for lost instructional time from months earlier. I have long advocated both starting school earlier in August and building more than 2 snow days into the calendar.

But just as some of us would prefer to start earlier, others strongly oppose an earlier start. There isn’t universal agreement on when to start, how long summer break should be, which religious holidays should not be instructional days, etc. I don’t think teachers are a monolith; I’m sure they also have different calendar preferences. However, I seriously doubt most of them prefer tacking on makeup days to the end of the school year over having more of them built into the calendar.

You’re just being argumentative and targeting teachers. They don’t propose or approve the calendar. They didn’t choose the minimum number of mandated instructional days. They didn’t impose the requirements for assessments. They are subject to a rigid framework. Most of them would love more flexibility to tinker with lesson plans to suit their students’ needs.

In other words, MCPS is incapable of making the decisions that are best for kids because the adults are too whiny.