Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC tried extended school year didn’t they? Or was it just extended day? I know Montgomery County just ended an innovative year calendar for next year. I suspect the cost-benefit for academics isn’t there and probably low attendance. You’re always going to have families with means say we are going on summer vacation/camp and pull their kids. Unless the whole region changes at the same time I don’t think DC will change. Maryland also recently tried to require schools to start after Labor Day as an economic boost to beach areas. Not sure how that went down but I remember it being a thing.

It was extended school year and that failed because of numerous reasons -if all DCPS schools were operating on a 6 week summer break instead I am sure the results would be different.

NP and I’m not so sure. Kids with means already leave before the end of the school year for summer programs, summer camp, staying with families overseas, etc. Shortening the summer will exacerbate this.

Kids without means often stop coming to school in June. The extended school year had terrible attendance. This will not work.

[Anonymous]

So happy my youngest graduate high school next year!

[Anonymous]

Year-round school won’t happen because the District can’t afford to pay the increased salary costs and many teachers would leave. We already can’t fill many existing vacancies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Year-round school won’t happen because the District can’t afford to pay the increased salary costs and many teachers would leave. We already can’t fill many existing vacancies.

Yeah, we “can’t afford” to pay teachers because that $1.1B needs to go to a Commanders stadium which we all know is better for the health of the district and its residents than actually educating the kids. Can’t afford… get out of here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

Spring break isn't tied to Easter. It's tied to Emancipation Day. Spring break "week" isn't a week of break. It's 4 days of break and 1 day of holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

Spring break isn't tied to Easter. It's tied to Emancipation Day. Spring break "week" isn't a week of break. It's 4 days of break and 1 day of holiday.

Going forward Spring Break will be tied to Easter. Already in the calendars for the next three school years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

Spring break isn't tied to Easter. It's tied to Emancipation Day. Spring break "week" isn't a week of break. It's 4 days of break and 1 day of holiday.

-------------------------------------------
Going forward Spring Break will be tied to Easter. Already in the calendars for the next three school years.

Yeah 2027 and 2029 have spring break in the wrong month. It should be secular to a certain time in the school year or a holiday that is stationary every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fewer PD days
School on records days (maybe a short day) - If parents don't like them have the schools hold a childcare program between the early dismissal and regular dismissal times.
Hold PD or go virtual on the November election day instead of a complete non school day.
If there is an election day in early June go virtual, if in mid-June end the year before it.
Change the municipal law to hours so there is a buffer for snow days without having to all of them up.
Change the 26-27 calendar to August 24-June 10/11 OR August 31-June 17 depending if people prefer earlier start/end or later.
27-28 would be August 23-June 8/9 OR August 30-June 15
28-29 should be August 28-June 14/15 since August 21 is too early

Wait, I thought we WANTED shorter summers? Isn't that the goal? Why would anyone want longer summers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fewer PD days
School on records days (maybe a short day) - If parents don't like them have the schools hold a childcare program between the early dismissal and regular dismissal times.
Hold PD or go virtual on the November election day instead of a complete non school day.
If there is an election day in early June go virtual, if in mid-June end the year before it.
Change the municipal law to hours so there is a buffer for snow days without having to all of them up.
Change the 26-27 calendar to August 24-June 10/11 OR August 31-June 17 depending if people prefer earlier start/end or later.
27-28 would be August 23-June 8/9 OR August 30-June 15
28-29 should be August 28-June 14/15 since August 21 is too early

Wait, I thought we WANTED shorter summers? Isn't that the goal? Why would anyone want longer summers?

dp - I want longer summers, not shorter. And I want less days off for nothingness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

Spring break isn't tied to Easter. It's tied to Emancipation Day. Spring break "week" isn't a week of break. It's 4 days of break and 1 day of holiday.

-------------------------------------------
Going forward Spring Break will be tied to Easter. Already in the calendars for the next three school years.

Yeah 2027 and 2029 have spring break in the wrong month. It should be secular to a certain time in the school year or a holiday that is stationary every year.

I think the problem is that the Maryland school districts tie Spring Break to Easter, which causes staffing issues if DCPS isn't aligned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fewer PD days
School on records days (maybe a short day) - If parents don't like them have the schools hold a childcare program between the early dismissal and regular dismissal times.
Hold PD or go virtual on the November election day instead of a complete non school day.
If there is an election day in early June go virtual, if in mid-June end the year before it.
Change the municipal law to hours so there is a buffer for snow days without having to all of them up.
Change the 26-27 calendar to August 24-June 10/11 OR August 31-June 17 depending if people prefer earlier start/end or later.
27-28 would be August 23-June 8/9 OR August 30-June 15
28-29 should be August 28-June 14/15 since August 21 is too early

Wait, I thought we WANTED shorter summers? Isn't that the goal? Why would anyone want longer summers?

dp - I want longer summers, not shorter. And I want less days off for nothingness.

Why on earth? Most people want shorter summers. DC isn't exactly farm country. We need our kids in school year-round, with breaks scattered throughout the year. I like the way we've been moving. Who the hell wants a long summer break? That's stupid. Huge waste of time. Too much learning loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

Spring break isn't tied to Easter. It's tied to Emancipation Day. Spring break "week" isn't a week of break. It's 4 days of break and 1 day of holiday.

-------------------------------------------
Going forward Spring Break will be tied to Easter. Already in the calendars for the next three school years.

Yeah 2027 and 2029 have spring break in the wrong month. It should be secular to a certain time in the school year or a holiday that is stationary every year.

I think the problem is that the Maryland school districts tie Spring Break to Easter, which causes staffing issues if DCPS isn't aligned.

and then creates a random day off for DCPS which must observe Emancipation Day, a District holiday. I'm with the PP that I would rather have spring break fixed and IMO it should always go with Emancipation Day. MCPS should follow us not the other way around. Especially given the religious plurality there, I really don't get why they favor the Christian holidays the way they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fewer PD days
School on records days (maybe a short day) - If parents don't like them have the schools hold a childcare program between the early dismissal and regular dismissal times.
Hold PD or go virtual on the November election day instead of a complete non school day.
If there is an election day in early June go virtual, if in mid-June end the year before it.
Change the municipal law to hours so there is a buffer for snow days without having to all of them up.
Change the 26-27 calendar to August 24-June 10/11 OR August 31-June 17 depending if people prefer earlier start/end or later.
27-28 would be August 23-June 8/9 OR August 30-June 15
28-29 should be August 28-June 14/15 since August 21 is too early

Wait, I thought we WANTED shorter summers? Isn't that the goal? Why would anyone want longer summers?

dp - I want longer summers, not shorter. And I want less days off for nothingness.

Why on earth? Most people want shorter summers. DC isn't exactly farm country. We need our kids in school year-round, with breaks scattered throughout the year. I like the way we've been moving. Who the hell wants a long summer break? That's stupid. Huge waste of time. Too much learning loss.

Because my kids and I can make much better use of the summer than random breaks at other times of year. We're not alone. Sorry you don't speak for everyone, as you seem to presume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

Spring break isn't tied to Easter. It's tied to Emancipation Day. Spring break "week" isn't a week of break. It's 4 days of break and 1 day of holiday.

-------------------------------------------
Going forward Spring Break will be tied to Easter. Already in the calendars for the next three school years.

Yeah 2027 and 2029 have spring break in the wrong month. It should be secular to a certain time in the school year or a holiday that is stationary every year.

I think the problem is that the Maryland school districts tie Spring Break to Easter, which causes staffing issues if DCPS isn't aligned.

and then creates a random day off for DCPS which must observe Emancipation Day, a District holiday. I'm with the PP that I would rather have spring break fixed and IMO it should always go with Emancipation Day. MCPS should follow us not the other way around. Especially given the religious plurality there, I really don't get why they favor the Christian holidays the way they do.

MoCo has days off for many Jewish and Muslim holidays too. It's why their last day of school is now June 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fewer PD days
School on records days (maybe a short day) - If parents don't like them have the schools hold a childcare program between the early dismissal and regular dismissal times.
Hold PD or go virtual on the November election day instead of a complete non school day.
If there is an election day in early June go virtual, if in mid-June end the year before it.
Change the municipal law to hours so there is a buffer for snow days without having to all of them up.
Change the 26-27 calendar to August 24-June 10/11 OR August 31-June 17 depending if people prefer earlier start/end or later.
27-28 would be August 23-June 8/9 OR August 30-June 15
28-29 should be August 28-June 14/15 since August 21 is too early

Wait, I thought we WANTED shorter summers? Isn't that the goal? Why would anyone want longer summers?

dp - I want longer summers, not shorter. And I want less days off for nothingness.

Why on earth? Most people want shorter summers. DC isn't exactly farm country. We need our kids in school year-round, with breaks scattered throughout the year. I like the way we've been moving. Who the hell wants a long summer break? That's stupid. Huge waste of time. Too much learning loss.

Because my kids and I can make much better use of the summer than random breaks at other times of year. We're not alone. Sorry you don't speak for everyone, as you seem to presume.

The longer the summer, the worse the “melt.” It’s also bad for all sorts of public health reasons.
Shorter summer breaks are a good thing for working parents as well, and greatly reduce the overall cost of childcare.
The reason the US has a long summer break is we used to be a nation of farmers. We are not that, anymore. The fewer breaks kids get, the better for their academic outcomes.