Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I can't believe I just read all of this. This is... a lot.

The idea that the school board/school system is somehow responsible for easing the financial burden of child care costs (or the costs of ANYTHING outside of school is ludicrous. Your child is your financial responsibility. It's called being a parent. The fact that needs to be explained to people who are currently parents is incredibly sad.

For what it's worth, the Virginia Department of Education has a Child Care Subsidy Program. Explain your circumstance and try applying.

Here is the link for those who actually need it: https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/families/paying-for-child-care

I truly feel bad for the people struggling, but help/solutions are out there beyond hoping that the schoolboard will change the schedule on the sole basis that it financially helps families. Hope isn't a plan. But YOU do need a plan on how to financially be responsible for YOUR child.

The calendar is released well in advance. There are numerous changes YOU can make as a parent for YOUR child to better be able to handle the financial burden of increased childcare needs besides hoping for someone else to help YOU afford YOUR child.

Own? Move to a smaller house with less of a mortgage. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Rent? Move to a cheaper apartment. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Have a car payment? Sell it and buy a cheaper car. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Car paid off? Sell it and buy a used older car. Use the money you made off of your car sale to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat at home? Shop at cheaper grocery stores and buy in bulk. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat out? Eat out a few times less per month. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

These are just a few of MANY solutions/sacrifices that YOU as a parent should be willing to make to financially support YOUR child.

Are these difficult changes? Yes, and I'm sure there will be lots of arguments why they're preposterous ideas to some and how they shouldn't have to make them. But again, it's YOUR child and YOU should be willing to do anything to be able to financially provide the best YOU can.

The hard truth is, if it was that important of an issue or was really hurting your pockets that much, you would. But it's easier to anonymously complain on the internet, send some emails to your school board politicians, and rely on hope.

I'm so happy your husband can afford to pay your nanny.

My wife and I pay child care for three kids. Both work full time. I almost six figures pretax and my wife makes less than 50k pretax. We factor childcare expenses into our budget at the beginning of the school year and put that money in a separate account each paycheck. We utilize the school calendar to know what random days we’ll need extra care and factor in 11 days extra for each of the potential snow days. If we don’t have the snow days, we put the excess money towards our family vacation in the summer.

We’re not rich by any means for this area, but we make it work. Some years we have more money left over, some we have less. Some months we eat out more, some months we eat out less. We chose to have 3 kids and their wellbeing comes first. The last thing we’re going to do is consider them or their needs a financial burden. It’s just part of being their parents.

So what would you do with an extra $5000 this year?

Presumably, as good parents, it would go to help your kids, right?

What is it that an erratic calendar does that is worth $5000 to you?

An extra $5000? Currently we’d put it towards a low cost starter car for our oldest. She’ll be getting her license soon and it would help us all if she had her own vehicle to drive. She already has a job she’s been saving money at for insurance, gas, and property taxes, but having her able to drive there herself and help with her siblings needs would be beneficial to herself and the whole family.

So why is supporting an erratic calendar, and resisting any efforts for elected officials to be accountable to the priorities of their constituents more important than your oldest getting a car?

Well, for starters, changing the current calendar would not save my family $5000 a year.

Right, I imagine as the parent of someone approaching driving age that is the case. If you can put yourself in the position of people with elementary age children, why should they support an erratic Calendar – – which does cost many of them $5000 or more per year— instead of advocating for better for their families?

I have two elementary aged children…

I’m just a firm believer that I should not expect the public school system / the politicians on the school board to help ME financially support MY children. It’s really that simple.

Except...you think their educations should be free and most likely hit certain standards that are completely unrelatable for most of the United States. It was not that long ago that having children meant you would pay school fees and it most of the world, it's still like that. So you DO expect public offices to support your children financially. Stop pretending because you don't want one specific change that you are carrying the entire financial burden of having children yourself.

I actually vehemently disagree with literally all of what you say I think. I would happily pay school fees, another way for me to help financially contribute to my children (not the other way around). I’m also incredibly realistic about the education they receive in FCPS and what standards FCPS should uphold financially and ethically, but thanks for telling me what I think.

I’m sure you make your spouse incredibly happy with that trait!

But you don't. You could pay and go to private school but you choose not to pay. You could be an amazing citizen and pay your taxes to support broader education in society and pay more to contribute more to your children's future. But you don't.

Fortunately, our kids enjoy their public schools. We asked when our oldest was younger if she wanted to attend a private school, but she was uninterested. If she did, we’d do everything we could to make it work. I suppose we’ll ask our younger children when they get a little older, but they’re doing great at their current elementary school and I doubt they’ll want to leave their friends.

We pay our fair share of taxes. We choose to contribute our extra funds to our church, but we make a small donation to our HS sports team every year and are active members of the PTSA and booster club to help raise the funds we can’t afford to donate ourselves.

But you already knew that since you know everything about everyone else!

FCPS cost per pupil is $22,000. Since you don't expect anyone else to pay for your children, how about you take on the full burden of that cost (which is actually mostly shouldered by people without kids using the schools). You know, it's called being a parent.

I'm sure you can make checks payable to Karl Frisch.

Not thinking the school system is responsible for easing the financial burden of child care has certainly triggered some folks here tonight and brought out some interesting takes.

I’m unsure how the opinion that FCPS is not responsible for helping lower my cost of child care OUTSIDE of school is relevant to me taking on the full burden of FCPS’ cost per pupil to be IN school.

Because they set the school day. If FCPS cited some sort of obscure research saying that kids do great if they get one day a month of classroom instruction and the rest of the time they should really be shadowing adults so that's what FCPS is now doing, this board would be up in arms. Why? Because you expect free education and you most likely could not afford it at its current cost otherwise.

But someone who says "this is really different than what I have encountered in my life AND what you did just a few years ago AND what I structured my life and decision to have kids around, please reconsider" is a bad parent and a mooch? When you are also completely dependent on the public education system? I'm really glad you have a part-time job or the money for a au pair or whatever but not everyone who isn't in your situation is doing it wrong.

Lol did you really just say your decision to have kids was based on the FCPS calendar?

+1, this needs to go in the DC Urban Moms Hall of Fame for funniest quotes

My favorite part was when you went all Mean Girl instead of trying to refute that you have it easy or that would couldn't afford this life without whatever FCPS decides to give you.

My favorite part is when you said your decision to reproduce and become a parent for life was based on the calendar of a public school system.

Just say that out loud…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I can't believe I just read all of this. This is... a lot.

The idea that the school board/school system is somehow responsible for easing the financial burden of child care costs (or the costs of ANYTHING outside of school is ludicrous. Your child is your financial responsibility. It's called being a parent. The fact that needs to be explained to people who are currently parents is incredibly sad.

For what it's worth, the Virginia Department of Education has a Child Care Subsidy Program. Explain your circumstance and try applying.

Here is the link for those who actually need it: https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/families/paying-for-child-care

I truly feel bad for the people struggling, but help/solutions are out there beyond hoping that the schoolboard will change the schedule on the sole basis that it financially helps families. Hope isn't a plan. But YOU do need a plan on how to financially be responsible for YOUR child.

The calendar is released well in advance. There are numerous changes YOU can make as a parent for YOUR child to better be able to handle the financial burden of increased childcare needs besides hoping for someone else to help YOU afford YOUR child.

Own? Move to a smaller house with less of a mortgage. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Rent? Move to a cheaper apartment. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Have a car payment? Sell it and buy a cheaper car. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Car paid off? Sell it and buy a used older car. Use the money you made off of your car sale to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat at home? Shop at cheaper grocery stores and buy in bulk. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat out? Eat out a few times less per month. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

These are just a few of MANY solutions/sacrifices that YOU as a parent should be willing to make to financially support YOUR child.

Are these difficult changes? Yes, and I'm sure there will be lots of arguments why they're preposterous ideas to some and how they shouldn't have to make them. But again, it's YOUR child and YOU should be willing to do anything to be able to financially provide the best YOU can.

The hard truth is, if it was that important of an issue or was really hurting your pockets that much, you would. But it's easier to anonymously complain on the internet, send some emails to your school board politicians, and rely on hope.

I'm so happy your husband can afford to pay your nanny.

My wife and I pay child care for three kids. Both work full time. I almost six figures pretax and my wife makes less than 50k pretax. We factor childcare expenses into our budget at the beginning of the school year and put that money in a separate account each paycheck. We utilize the school calendar to know what random days we’ll need extra care and factor in 11 days extra for each of the potential snow days. If we don’t have the snow days, we put the excess money towards our family vacation in the summer.

We’re not rich by any means for this area, but we make it work. Some years we have more money left over, some we have less. Some months we eat out more, some months we eat out less. We chose to have 3 kids and their wellbeing comes first. The last thing we’re going to do is consider them or their needs a financial burden. It’s just part of being their parents.

So what would you do with an extra $5000 this year?

Presumably, as good parents, it would go to help your kids, right?

What is it that an erratic calendar does that is worth $5000 to you?

An extra $5000? Currently we’d put it towards a low cost starter car for our oldest. She’ll be getting her license soon and it would help us all if she had her own vehicle to drive. She already has a job she’s been saving money at for insurance, gas, and property taxes, but having her able to drive there herself and help with her siblings needs would be beneficial to herself and the whole family.

So why is supporting an erratic calendar, and resisting any efforts for elected officials to be accountable to the priorities of their constituents more important than your oldest getting a car?

Well, for starters, changing the current calendar would not save my family $5000 a year.

Right, I imagine as the parent of someone approaching driving age that is the case. If you can put yourself in the position of people with elementary age children, why should they support an erratic Calendar – – which does cost many of them $5000 or more per year— instead of advocating for better for their families?

I have two elementary aged children…

I’m just a firm believer that I should not expect the public school system / the politicians on the school board to help ME financially support MY children. It’s really that simple.

Except...you think their educations should be free and most likely hit certain standards that are completely unrelatable for most of the United States. It was not that long ago that having children meant you would pay school fees and it most of the world, it's still like that. So you DO expect public offices to support your children financially. Stop pretending because you don't want one specific change that you are carrying the entire financial burden of having children yourself.

I actually vehemently disagree with literally all of what you say I think. I would happily pay school fees, another way for me to help financially contribute to my children (not the other way around). I’m also incredibly realistic about the education they receive in FCPS and what standards FCPS should uphold financially and ethically, but thanks for telling me what I think.

I’m sure you make your spouse incredibly happy with that trait!

But you don't. You could pay and go to private school but you choose not to pay. You could be an amazing citizen and pay your taxes to support broader education in society and pay more to contribute more to your children's future. But you don't.

Fortunately, our kids enjoy their public schools. We asked when our oldest was younger if she wanted to attend a private school, but she was uninterested. If she did, we’d do everything we could to make it work. I suppose we’ll ask our younger children when they get a little older, but they’re doing great at their current elementary school and I doubt they’ll want to leave their friends.

We pay our fair share of taxes. We choose to contribute our extra funds to our church, but we make a small donation to our HS sports team every year and are active members of the PTSA and booster club to help raise the funds we can’t afford to donate ourselves.

But you already knew that since you know everything about everyone else!

FCPS cost per pupil is $22,000. Since you don't expect anyone else to pay for your children, how about you take on the full burden of that cost (which is actually mostly shouldered by people without kids using the schools). You know, it's called being a parent.

I'm sure you can make checks payable to Karl Frisch.

Not thinking the school system is responsible for easing the financial burden of child care has certainly triggered some folks here tonight and brought out some interesting takes.

I’m unsure how the opinion that FCPS is not responsible for helping lower my cost of child care OUTSIDE of school is relevant to me taking on the full burden of FCPS’ cost per pupil to be IN school.

Because they set the school day. If FCPS cited some sort of obscure research saying that kids do great if they get one day a month of classroom instruction and the rest of the time they should really be shadowing adults so that's what FCPS is now doing, this board would be up in arms. Why? Because you expect free education and you most likely could not afford it at its current cost otherwise.

But someone who says "this is really different than what I have encountered in my life AND what you did just a few years ago AND what I structured my life and decision to have kids around, please reconsider" is a bad parent and a mooch? When you are also completely dependent on the public education system? I'm really glad you have a part-time job or the money for a au pair or whatever but not everyone who isn't in your situation is doing it wrong.

Lol did you really just say your decision to have kids was based on the FCPS calendar?

“AND what I structured my life and decision to have kids around”

Decision to have kids around… the FCPS calendar…

Yes. She did that say. Insanity.

DP. Having public school available did factor into my decision to have kids. The country my husband grew up in, it wasn't. So maybe it's just your perspective that made it hard for you to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I can't believe I just read all of this. This is... a lot.

The idea that the school board/school system is somehow responsible for easing the financial burden of child care costs (or the costs of ANYTHING outside of school is ludicrous. Your child is your financial responsibility. It's called being a parent. The fact that needs to be explained to people who are currently parents is incredibly sad.

For what it's worth, the Virginia Department of Education has a Child Care Subsidy Program. Explain your circumstance and try applying.

Here is the link for those who actually need it: https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/families/paying-for-child-care

I truly feel bad for the people struggling, but help/solutions are out there beyond hoping that the schoolboard will change the schedule on the sole basis that it financially helps families. Hope isn't a plan. But YOU do need a plan on how to financially be responsible for YOUR child.

The calendar is released well in advance. There are numerous changes YOU can make as a parent for YOUR child to better be able to handle the financial burden of increased childcare needs besides hoping for someone else to help YOU afford YOUR child.

Own? Move to a smaller house with less of a mortgage. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Rent? Move to a cheaper apartment. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Have a car payment? Sell it and buy a cheaper car. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Car paid off? Sell it and buy a used older car. Use the money you made off of your car sale to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat at home? Shop at cheaper grocery stores and buy in bulk. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat out? Eat out a few times less per month. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

These are just a few of MANY solutions/sacrifices that YOU as a parent should be willing to make to financially support YOUR child.

Are these difficult changes? Yes, and I'm sure there will be lots of arguments why they're preposterous ideas to some and how they shouldn't have to make them. But again, it's YOUR child and YOU should be willing to do anything to be able to financially provide the best YOU can.

The hard truth is, if it was that important of an issue or was really hurting your pockets that much, you would. But it's easier to anonymously complain on the internet, send some emails to your school board politicians, and rely on hope.

I'm so happy your husband can afford to pay your nanny.

My wife and I pay child care for three kids. Both work full time. I almost six figures pretax and my wife makes less than 50k pretax. We factor childcare expenses into our budget at the beginning of the school year and put that money in a separate account each paycheck. We utilize the school calendar to know what random days we’ll need extra care and factor in 11 days extra for each of the potential snow days. If we don’t have the snow days, we put the excess money towards our family vacation in the summer.

We’re not rich by any means for this area, but we make it work. Some years we have more money left over, some we have less. Some months we eat out more, some months we eat out less. We chose to have 3 kids and their wellbeing comes first. The last thing we’re going to do is consider them or their needs a financial burden. It’s just part of being their parents.

So what would you do with an extra $5000 this year?

Presumably, as good parents, it would go to help your kids, right?

What is it that an erratic calendar does that is worth $5000 to you?

An extra $5000? Currently we’d put it towards a low cost starter car for our oldest. She’ll be getting her license soon and it would help us all if she had her own vehicle to drive. She already has a job she’s been saving money at for insurance, gas, and property taxes, but having her able to drive there herself and help with her siblings needs would be beneficial to herself and the whole family.

So why is supporting an erratic calendar, and resisting any efforts for elected officials to be accountable to the priorities of their constituents more important than your oldest getting a car?

Well, for starters, changing the current calendar would not save my family $5000 a year.

Right, I imagine as the parent of someone approaching driving age that is the case. If you can put yourself in the position of people with elementary age children, why should they support an erratic Calendar – – which does cost many of them $5000 or more per year— instead of advocating for better for their families?

I have two elementary aged children…

I’m just a firm believer that I should not expect the public school system / the politicians on the school board to help ME financially support MY children. It’s really that simple.

Except...you think their educations should be free and most likely hit certain standards that are completely unrelatable for most of the United States. It was not that long ago that having children meant you would pay school fees and it most of the world, it's still like that. So you DO expect public offices to support your children financially. Stop pretending because you don't want one specific change that you are carrying the entire financial burden of having children yourself.

I actually vehemently disagree with literally all of what you say I think. I would happily pay school fees, another way for me to help financially contribute to my children (not the other way around). I’m also incredibly realistic about the education they receive in FCPS and what standards FCPS should uphold financially and ethically, but thanks for telling me what I think.

I’m sure you make your spouse incredibly happy with that trait!

But you don't. You could pay and go to private school but you choose not to pay. You could be an amazing citizen and pay your taxes to support broader education in society and pay more to contribute more to your children's future. But you don't.

Fortunately, our kids enjoy their public schools. We asked when our oldest was younger if she wanted to attend a private school, but she was uninterested. If she did, we’d do everything we could to make it work. I suppose we’ll ask our younger children when they get a little older, but they’re doing great at their current elementary school and I doubt they’ll want to leave their friends.

We pay our fair share of taxes. We choose to contribute our extra funds to our church, but we make a small donation to our HS sports team every year and are active members of the PTSA and booster club to help raise the funds we can’t afford to donate ourselves.

But you already knew that since you know everything about everyone else!

FCPS cost per pupil is $22,000. Since you don't expect anyone else to pay for your children, how about you take on the full burden of that cost (which is actually mostly shouldered by people without kids using the schools). You know, it's called being a parent.

I'm sure you can make checks payable to Karl Frisch.

Not thinking the school system is responsible for easing the financial burden of child care has certainly triggered some folks here tonight and brought out some interesting takes.

I’m unsure how the opinion that FCPS is not responsible for helping lower my cost of child care OUTSIDE of school is relevant to me taking on the full burden of FCPS’ cost per pupil to be IN school.

Because they set the school day. If FCPS cited some sort of obscure research saying that kids do great if they get one day a month of classroom instruction and the rest of the time they should really be shadowing adults so that's what FCPS is now doing, this board would be up in arms. Why? Because you expect free education and you most likely could not afford it at its current cost otherwise.

But someone who says "this is really different than what I have encountered in my life AND what you did just a few years ago AND what I structured my life and decision to have kids around, please reconsider" is a bad parent and a mooch? When you are also completely dependent on the public education system? I'm really glad you have a part-time job or the money for a au pair or whatever but not everyone who isn't in your situation is doing it wrong.

Lol did you really just say your decision to have kids was based on the FCPS calendar?

“AND what I structured my life and decision to have kids around”

Decision to have kids around… the FCPS calendar…

Yes. She did that say. Insanity.

DP. Having public school available did factor into my decision to have kids. The country my husband grew up in, it wasn't. So maybe it's just your perspective that made it hard for you to understand.

Don’t move the goalposts now. Every child has access to a free and public education everywhere in the United States. However, that is not at all what you said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I can't believe I just read all of this. This is... a lot.

The idea that the school board/school system is somehow responsible for easing the financial burden of child care costs (or the costs of ANYTHING outside of school is ludicrous. Your child is your financial responsibility. It's called being a parent. The fact that needs to be explained to people who are currently parents is incredibly sad.

For what it's worth, the Virginia Department of Education has a Child Care Subsidy Program. Explain your circumstance and try applying.

Here is the link for those who actually need it: https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/families/paying-for-child-care

I truly feel bad for the people struggling, but help/solutions are out there beyond hoping that the schoolboard will change the schedule on the sole basis that it financially helps families. Hope isn't a plan. But YOU do need a plan on how to financially be responsible for YOUR child.

The calendar is released well in advance. There are numerous changes YOU can make as a parent for YOUR child to better be able to handle the financial burden of increased childcare needs besides hoping for someone else to help YOU afford YOUR child.

Own? Move to a smaller house with less of a mortgage. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Rent? Move to a cheaper apartment. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Have a car payment? Sell it and buy a cheaper car. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Car paid off? Sell it and buy a used older car. Use the money you made off of your car sale to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat at home? Shop at cheaper grocery stores and buy in bulk. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat out? Eat out a few times less per month. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

These are just a few of MANY solutions/sacrifices that YOU as a parent should be willing to make to financially support YOUR child.

Are these difficult changes? Yes, and I'm sure there will be lots of arguments why they're preposterous ideas to some and how they shouldn't have to make them. But again, it's YOUR child and YOU should be willing to do anything to be able to financially provide the best YOU can.

The hard truth is, if it was that important of an issue or was really hurting your pockets that much, you would. But it's easier to anonymously complain on the internet, send some emails to your school board politicians, and rely on hope.

I'm so happy your husband can afford to pay your nanny.

My wife and I pay child care for three kids. Both work full time. I almost six figures pretax and my wife makes less than 50k pretax. We factor childcare expenses into our budget at the beginning of the school year and put that money in a separate account each paycheck. We utilize the school calendar to know what random days we’ll need extra care and factor in 11 days extra for each of the potential snow days. If we don’t have the snow days, we put the excess money towards our family vacation in the summer.

We’re not rich by any means for this area, but we make it work. Some years we have more money left over, some we have less. Some months we eat out more, some months we eat out less. We chose to have 3 kids and their wellbeing comes first. The last thing we’re going to do is consider them or their needs a financial burden. It’s just part of being their parents.

So what would you do with an extra $5000 this year?

Presumably, as good parents, it would go to help your kids, right?

What is it that an erratic calendar does that is worth $5000 to you?

An extra $5000? Currently we’d put it towards a low cost starter car for our oldest. She’ll be getting her license soon and it would help us all if she had her own vehicle to drive. She already has a job she’s been saving money at for insurance, gas, and property taxes, but having her able to drive there herself and help with her siblings needs would be beneficial to herself and the whole family.

So why is supporting an erratic calendar, and resisting any efforts for elected officials to be accountable to the priorities of their constituents more important than your oldest getting a car?

Well, for starters, changing the current calendar would not save my family $5000 a year.

Right, I imagine as the parent of someone approaching driving age that is the case. If you can put yourself in the position of people with elementary age children, why should they support an erratic Calendar – – which does cost many of them $5000 or more per year— instead of advocating for better for their families?

I have two elementary aged children…

I’m just a firm believer that I should not expect the public school system / the politicians on the school board to help ME financially support MY children. It’s really that simple.

Except...you think their educations should be free and most likely hit certain standards that are completely unrelatable for most of the United States. It was not that long ago that having children meant you would pay school fees and it most of the world, it's still like that. So you DO expect public offices to support your children financially. Stop pretending because you don't want one specific change that you are carrying the entire financial burden of having children yourself.

I actually vehemently disagree with literally all of what you say I think. I would happily pay school fees, another way for me to help financially contribute to my children (not the other way around). I’m also incredibly realistic about the education they receive in FCPS and what standards FCPS should uphold financially and ethically, but thanks for telling me what I think.

I’m sure you make your spouse incredibly happy with that trait!

But you don't. You could pay and go to private school but you choose not to pay. You could be an amazing citizen and pay your taxes to support broader education in society and pay more to contribute more to your children's future. But you don't.

Fortunately, our kids enjoy their public schools. We asked when our oldest was younger if she wanted to attend a private school, but she was uninterested. If she did, we’d do everything we could to make it work. I suppose we’ll ask our younger children when they get a little older, but they’re doing great at their current elementary school and I doubt they’ll want to leave their friends.

We pay our fair share of taxes. We choose to contribute our extra funds to our church, but we make a small donation to our HS sports team every year and are active members of the PTSA and booster club to help raise the funds we can’t afford to donate ourselves.

But you already knew that since you know everything about everyone else!

FCPS cost per pupil is $22,000. Since you don't expect anyone else to pay for your children, how about you take on the full burden of that cost (which is actually mostly shouldered by people without kids using the schools). You know, it's called being a parent.

I'm sure you can make checks payable to Karl Frisch.

Not thinking the school system is responsible for easing the financial burden of child care has certainly triggered some folks here tonight and brought out some interesting takes.

I’m unsure how the opinion that FCPS is not responsible for helping lower my cost of child care OUTSIDE of school is relevant to me taking on the full burden of FCPS’ cost per pupil to be IN school.

Because they set the school day. If FCPS cited some sort of obscure research saying that kids do great if they get one day a month of classroom instruction and the rest of the time they should really be shadowing adults so that's what FCPS is now doing, this board would be up in arms. Why? Because you expect free education and you most likely could not afford it at its current cost otherwise.

But someone who says "this is really different than what I have encountered in my life AND what you did just a few years ago AND what I structured my life and decision to have kids around, please reconsider" is a bad parent and a mooch? When you are also completely dependent on the public education system? I'm really glad you have a part-time job or the money for a au pair or whatever but not everyone who isn't in your situation is doing it wrong.

Lol did you really just say your decision to have kids was based on the FCPS calendar?

+1, this needs to go in the DC Urban Moms Hall of Fame for funniest quotes

Ouch the whole ""if they take away a bunch of random Wednesdays, they could take away all of it and then you couldn't afford to keep up" hit hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread boils down to:

1) Jews and Muslims shouldn't get holidays.

and

2) I don't want my kids at home with me during federal holidays.

That's pretty much it.

Actually, speaking only for myself, it’s the excessive Thanksgiving and Memorial Day that need to go first.

So for this instance, it’s #2.

Never understood people having kids and not wanting to spend the most time possible with them.

This whole calendar debate boils down to:

1) I choose to have kids and then figure out if it works to be employed - either way it's fine
2) I have to work so my decision to have kids depends a lot on childcare options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I can't believe I just read all of this. This is... a lot.

The idea that the school board/school system is somehow responsible for easing the financial burden of child care costs (or the costs of ANYTHING outside of school is ludicrous. Your child is your financial responsibility. It's called being a parent. The fact that needs to be explained to people who are currently parents is incredibly sad.

For what it's worth, the Virginia Department of Education has a Child Care Subsidy Program. Explain your circumstance and try applying.

Here is the link for those who actually need it: https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/families/paying-for-child-care

I truly feel bad for the people struggling, but help/solutions are out there beyond hoping that the schoolboard will change the schedule on the sole basis that it financially helps families. Hope isn't a plan. But YOU do need a plan on how to financially be responsible for YOUR child.

The calendar is released well in advance. There are numerous changes YOU can make as a parent for YOUR child to better be able to handle the financial burden of increased childcare needs besides hoping for someone else to help YOU afford YOUR child.

Own? Move to a smaller house with less of a mortgage. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Rent? Move to a cheaper apartment. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Have a car payment? Sell it and buy a cheaper car. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Car paid off? Sell it and buy a used older car. Use the money you made off of your car sale to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat at home? Shop at cheaper grocery stores and buy in bulk. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

Eat out? Eat out a few times less per month. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs.

These are just a few of MANY solutions/sacrifices that YOU as a parent should be willing to make to financially support YOUR child.

Are these difficult changes? Yes, and I'm sure there will be lots of arguments why they're preposterous ideas to some and how they shouldn't have to make them. But again, it's YOUR child and YOU should be willing to do anything to be able to financially provide the best YOU can.

The hard truth is, if it was that important of an issue or was really hurting your pockets that much, you would. But it's easier to anonymously complain on the internet, send some emails to your school board politicians, and rely on hope.

I'm so happy your husband can afford to pay your nanny.

My wife and I pay child care for three kids. Both work full time. I almost six figures pretax and my wife makes less than 50k pretax. We factor childcare expenses into our budget at the beginning of the school year and put that money in a separate account each paycheck. We utilize the school calendar to know what random days we’ll need extra care and factor in 11 days extra for each of the potential snow days. If we don’t have the snow days, we put the excess money towards our family vacation in the summer.

We’re not rich by any means for this area, but we make it work. Some years we have more money left over, some we have less. Some months we eat out more, some months we eat out less. We chose to have 3 kids and their wellbeing comes first. The last thing we’re going to do is consider them or their needs a financial burden. It’s just part of being their parents.

So what would you do with an extra $5000 this year?

Presumably, as good parents, it would go to help your kids, right?

What is it that an erratic calendar does that is worth $5000 to you?

An extra $5000? Currently we’d put it towards a low cost starter car for our oldest. She’ll be getting her license soon and it would help us all if she had her own vehicle to drive. She already has a job she’s been saving money at for insurance, gas, and property taxes, but having her able to drive there herself and help with her siblings needs would be beneficial to herself and the whole family.

So why is supporting an erratic calendar, and resisting any efforts for elected officials to be accountable to the priorities of their constituents more important than your oldest getting a car?

Well, for starters, changing the current calendar would not save my family $5000 a year.

Right, I imagine as the parent of someone approaching driving age that is the case. If you can put yourself in the position of people with elementary age children, why should they support an erratic Calendar – – which does cost many of them $5000 or more per year— instead of advocating for better for their families?

I have two elementary aged children…

I’m just a firm believer that I should not expect the public school system / the politicians on the school board to help ME financially support MY children. It’s really that simple.

Except...you think their educations should be free and most likely hit certain standards that are completely unrelatable for most of the United States. It was not that long ago that having children meant you would pay school fees and it most of the world, it's still like that. So you DO expect public offices to support your children financially. Stop pretending because you don't want one specific change that you are carrying the entire financial burden of having children yourself.

I actually vehemently disagree with literally all of what you say I think. I would happily pay school fees, another way for me to help financially contribute to my children (not the other way around). I’m also incredibly realistic about the education they receive in FCPS and what standards FCPS should uphold financially and ethically, but thanks for telling me what I think.

I’m sure you make your spouse incredibly happy with that trait!

But you don't. You could pay and go to private school but you choose not to pay. You could be an amazing citizen and pay your taxes to support broader education in society and pay more to contribute more to your children's future. But you don't.

Fortunately, our kids enjoy their public schools. We asked when our oldest was younger if she wanted to attend a private school, but she was uninterested. If she did, we’d do everything we could to make it work. I suppose we’ll ask our younger children when they get a little older, but they’re doing great at their current elementary school and I doubt they’ll want to leave their friends.

We pay our fair share of taxes. We choose to contribute our extra funds to our church, but we make a small donation to our HS sports team every year and are active members of the PTSA and booster club to help raise the funds we can’t afford to donate ourselves.

But you already knew that since you know everything about everyone else!

FCPS cost per pupil is $22,000. Since you don't expect anyone else to pay for your children, how about you take on the full burden of that cost (which is actually mostly shouldered by people without kids using the schools). You know, it's called being a parent.

I'm sure you can make checks payable to Karl Frisch.

Not thinking the school system is responsible for easing the financial burden of child care has certainly triggered some folks here tonight and brought out some interesting takes.

I’m unsure how the opinion that FCPS is not responsible for helping lower my cost of child care OUTSIDE of school is relevant to me taking on the full burden of FCPS’ cost per pupil to be IN school.

Because they set the school day. If FCPS cited some sort of obscure research saying that kids do great if they get one day a month of classroom instruction and the rest of the time they should really be shadowing adults so that's what FCPS is now doing, this board would be up in arms. Why? Because you expect free education and you most likely could not afford it at its current cost otherwise.

But someone who says "this is really different than what I have encountered in my life AND what you did just a few years ago AND what I structured my life and decision to have kids around, please reconsider" is a bad parent and a mooch? When you are also completely dependent on the public education system? I'm really glad you have a part-time job or the money for a au pair or whatever but not everyone who isn't in your situation is doing it wrong.

Lol did you really just say your decision to have kids was based on the FCPS calendar?

+1, this needs to go in the DC Urban Moms Hall of Fame for funniest quotes

Ouch the whole ""if they take away a bunch of random Wednesdays, they could take away all of it and then you couldn't afford to keep up" hit hard.

I’m not sure anything will ever hit as hard as the proclamation that the FCPS calendar was factored into the decision to bring a child into this world.

[Anonymous]

“Hey honey, I know you’ve always wanted to have kids, but the way the FCPS calendar is set up…”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread boils down to:

1) Jews and Muslims shouldn't get holidays.

and

2) I don't want my kids at home with me during federal holidays.

That's pretty much it.

Actually, speaking only for myself, it’s the excessive Thanksgiving and Memorial Day that need to go first.

So for this instance, it’s #2.

Never understood people having kids and not wanting to spend the most time possible with them.

This whole calendar debate boils down to:

1) I choose to have kids and then figure out if it works to be employed - either way it's fine
2) I have to work so my decision to have kids depends a lot on childcare options

It’s neither of those things. Well, maybe for some it is. But a lot of us are concerned about the actual education our kids are getting when we have so many days off and shortened days, on top of the usual winter weather issues, on top of both student and teacher illnesses and absences. It’s a lot. Yes, next year and the year after won’t be as bad in terms of the planned days off. I just think we need some kind of a future plan to make sure this type of heavily disjointed schedule doesn’t happen again in the future. I think it’s bad for education and I worry that they aren’t able to cover everything that they need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread boils down to:

1) Jews and Muslims shouldn't get holidays.

and

2) I don't want my kids at home with me during federal holidays.

That's pretty much it.

Actually, speaking only for myself, it’s the excessive Thanksgiving and Memorial Day that need to go first.

So for this instance, it’s #2.

Never understood people having kids and not wanting to spend the most time possible with them.

This whole calendar debate boils down to:

1) I choose to have kids and then figure out if it works to be employed - either way it's fine
2) I have to work so my decision to have kids depends a lot on childcare options

It’s neither of those things. Well, maybe for some it is. But a lot of us are concerned about the actual education our kids are getting when we have so many days off and shortened days, on top of the usual winter weather issues, on top of both student and teacher illnesses and absences. It’s a lot. Yes, next year and the year after won’t be as bad in terms of the planned days off. I just think we need some kind of a future plan to make sure this type of heavily disjointed schedule doesn’t happen again in the future. I think it’s bad for education and I worry that they aren’t able to cover everything that they need to.

You’re a good parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who pays for care on days off. The parents usually just trade using vacation days, telework if possible, use grandparents, or team up with friends.

You know why they do that? Because finding child care on erratic, random days is very difficult.

The calendar is not good for students and their education and that's my main problem with it. I would actually PAY to have education be at the forefront of FCPS. I have HS students so childcare is no longer a concern for me but both my husband and children find this calendar detrimental. "It's been hard to lock in this year" is a refrain I hear a lot from my kids and their friends. We don't need all these days off to relax and sleep.

There it is again. The calendar is not good for students and their education.

PROVE IT. Where is the data that suggests that? Are there lower test scores? Lower overall GPAs? Are reading levels progressing slower? Lower SAT scores? Lower graduation rates? Where are the actual FACTS? Not your opinion or your anecdotal evidence based on your kid and their friends. Real hard data.

Because if you don’t have that you have nothing but your opinion and everyone knows what they say about opinions…

You want actual data, not anecdotes. Multiple nonpartisan research groups - including Brown University, Stanford University, RAND, Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, and UConn’s Neag School—have all found the same thing: when districts reduce or destabilize instructional time, student achievement drops.

• Brown University & Stanford University (EdWorkingPaper 22‑653, 2023–24)
“Lost instructional time has consistently negative effects on student achievement.”
https://www.edworkingpapers.com/ai22-653

• Harvard Shorenstein Center – Journalist’s Resource (2025)
Peer‑reviewed studies show districts with reduced or inconsistent weekly schedules see lower test scores, *especially in math*
https://journalistsresource.org/education/four-day-school-week-research

• RAND Corporation (2023)
Irregular or shortened weekly schedules come with academic tradeoffs, including measurable declines in core subjects.
https://www.rand.org/blog/2023/04/the-four-day-school-week-are-the-pros-worth-the-cons.html

• UConn Neag School of Education / CEPARE (2024)
Fragmented or frequently altered schedules disrupt instructional continuity and harm learning.
https://education.uconn.edu/2024/01/03/around-the-block-evaluating-school-schedules

• American Psychological Association (2024)
Schedule structure - timing, consistency, predictability - has measurable effects on academic performance and attendance.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/08/schools-shift-later-start-times

So yes, there is data. And it’s remarkably consistent: When instructional time becomes irregular or fragmented, student outcomes decline. FCPS’s calendar fits the exact pattern the research warns about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who pays for care on days off. The parents usually just trade using vacation days, telework if possible, use grandparents, or team up with friends.

You know why they do that? Because finding child care on erratic, random days is very difficult.

The calendar is not good for students and their education and that's my main problem with it. I would actually PAY to have education be at the forefront of FCPS. I have HS students so childcare is no longer a concern for me but both my husband and children find this calendar detrimental. "It's been hard to lock in this year" is a refrain I hear a lot from my kids and their friends. We don't need all these days off to relax and sleep.

There it is again. The calendar is not good for students and their education.

PROVE IT. Where is the data that suggests that? Are there lower test scores? Lower overall GPAs? Are reading levels progressing slower? Lower SAT scores? Lower graduation rates? Where are the actual FACTS? Not your opinion or your anecdotal evidence based on your kid and their friends. Real hard data.

Because if you don’t have that you have nothing but your opinion and everyone knows what they say about opinions…

You want actual data, not anecdotes. Multiple nonpartisan research groups - including Brown University, Stanford University, RAND, Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, and UConn’s Neag School—have all found the same thing: when districts reduce or destabilize instructional time, student achievement drops.

• Brown University & Stanford University (EdWorkingPaper 22‑653, 2023–24)
“Lost instructional time has consistently negative effects on student achievement.”
https://www.edworkingpapers.com/ai22-653

• Harvard Shorenstein Center – Journalist’s Resource (2025)
Peer‑reviewed studies show districts with reduced or inconsistent weekly schedules see lower test scores, *especially in math*
https://journalistsresource.org/education/four-day-school-week-research

• RAND Corporation (2023)
Irregular or shortened weekly schedules come with academic tradeoffs, including measurable declines in core subjects.
https://www.rand.org/blog/2023/04/the-four-day-school-week-are-the-pros-worth-the-cons.html

• UConn Neag School of Education / CEPARE (2024)
Fragmented or frequently altered schedules disrupt instructional continuity and harm learning.
https://education.uconn.edu/2024/01/03/around-the-block-evaluating-school-schedules

• American Psychological Association (2024)
Schedule structure - timing, consistency, predictability - has measurable effects on academic performance and attendance.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/08/schools-shift-later-start-times

So yes, there is data. And it’s remarkably consistent: When instructional time becomes irregular or fragmented, student outcomes decline. FCPS’s calendar fits the exact pattern the research warns about.

You shouldn’t have done a trolls googling for her, it just feeds the need for attention (even negative attention is attention..) but thank you because i find the RAND study interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who pays for care on days off. The parents usually just trade using vacation days, telework if possible, use grandparents, or team up with friends.

You know why they do that? Because finding child care on erratic, random days is very difficult.

The calendar is not good for students and their education and that's my main problem with it. I would actually PAY to have education be at the forefront of FCPS. I have HS students so childcare is no longer a concern for me but both my husband and children find this calendar detrimental. "It's been hard to lock in this year" is a refrain I hear a lot from my kids and their friends. We don't need all these days off to relax and sleep.

There it is again. The calendar is not good for students and their education.

PROVE IT. Where is the data that suggests that? Are there lower test scores? Lower overall GPAs? Are reading levels progressing slower? Lower SAT scores? Lower graduation rates? Where are the actual FACTS? Not your opinion or your anecdotal evidence based on your kid and their friends. Real hard data.

Because if you don’t have that you have nothing but your opinion and everyone knows what they say about opinions…

You want actual data, not anecdotes. Multiple nonpartisan research groups - including Brown University, Stanford University, RAND, Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, and UConn’s Neag School—have all found the same thing: when districts reduce or destabilize instructional time, student achievement drops.

• Brown University & Stanford University (EdWorkingPaper 22‑653, 2023–24)
“Lost instructional time has consistently negative effects on student achievement.”
https://www.edworkingpapers.com/ai22-653

• Harvard Shorenstein Center – Journalist’s Resource (2025)
Peer‑reviewed studies show districts with reduced or inconsistent weekly schedules see lower test scores, *especially in math*
https://journalistsresource.org/education/four-day-school-week-research

• RAND Corporation (2023)
Irregular or shortened weekly schedules come with academic tradeoffs, including measurable declines in core subjects.
https://www.rand.org/blog/2023/04/the-four-day-school-week-are-the-pros-worth-the-cons.html

• UConn Neag School of Education / CEPARE (2024)
Fragmented or frequently altered schedules disrupt instructional continuity and harm learning.
https://education.uconn.edu/2024/01/03/around-the-block-evaluating-school-schedules

• American Psychological Association (2024)
Schedule structure - timing, consistency, predictability - has measurable effects on academic performance and attendance.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/08/schools-shift-later-start-times

So yes, there is data. And it’s remarkably consistent: When instructional time becomes irregular or fragmented, student outcomes decline. FCPS’s calendar fits the exact pattern the research warns about.

Thank you. It will be interesting to see FCPS’ data in the coming years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lol teachers get a 3-4 day work week and summers off, nevermind parents work 5 days a week+ funding schools fully with heavy tax burdens

And they’ll get the same salary and longer summers with a rational calendar.

Most accomplished teachers I know have summer jobs which are actually more lucrative than their teaching. Good teacher teachers will not object to more time off in the summer. The ones who make ends waitressing might.

Teachers have 40 week days in the summer from last day of work in June to first day of teacher workdays in August.

The starting teaching salary in FCPS is $61,747. For a 190 contract that’s $324 a day. Or $46 a hour.

What summer job do your teacher friends have for 40 days in the summer that pays more than $61,747?

Or what summer job do they have that will pay them more than $13,000?

What part time job is paying teachers more than $40 a hour, for 7 hours every weekday, for just the 40 days they’re available in the summer.

Please post the job link because teachers will line up for this lucrative endeavor.

I don't care if teachers make $40/hour or $100/hour. They work extremely hard and do a job most of us could do. Can you imagine dealing with 1000, 13-year-olds every day?

I think your math, by the way, is pretty flawed. I looked up the salary tables for FCPS, and it says teachers work 194-208 days. It is also public knowledge that teachers work more days than that, and they work 10 or more hours per day during school weeks.

Both my DH and I make significantly more than you claim teachers make per hour, yet our jobs are probably not nearly as stressful overall as a teacher’s job is. There is no way either of us would leave our jobs to go have the "cushy" job of a teacher. Absolutely not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than people who just don’t seem to want to improve things, who is it that loses in a rational calendar year? Because for all the praise of “extra rest for high school students” I haven’t seen any advocacy for adding days off. Who are you all trying to save here?

Everyone’s definition of a “rational calendar” is different. I for example consider the 25-26 calendar to be bad, but would call the 26-27 and 27-28 calendars rational. Others want calendars from a decade ago. There’s no scenario where everyone is happy.

They could pass policies that keep some of the rational aspects of 26-27 and 27-28. They could end early release. What is the point of refusing to try to make things better?

So the only reasons next school year and the year after that have decent calendars is because the various religious holidays fall at better times, on say Mondays or Fridays, or on weekends. Another “bad” calendar year like this year will definitely happen at some point in the not so distant future.

I’d like to see a policy around not necessarily “5 day weeks,” but more “absolute minimization of school days off from January-April.” Jan-March are the months we’re likely to have snow days messing up the calendar, then you get SB usually in April. These mid-year months are most critical for instruction so we can make sure that our kids are well-prepared for end of the year testing and that they’re learning enough with no gaps or rushing through their lessons.

It may mean that in some years, we can’t give off every federal holiday and every religious observance. It may mean that the staff development days (not the one teacher work day at the end of the quarter, which is important for getting in grades ) need to be moved to another point in the school year. It may mean making tough decisions about the length of winter break, or spring break. Next year’s calendar happens to work out, but we may not be so lucky in the future.

You are right except with the winter break and spring break. Winter break should be two weeks and spring break while one week should stay in one spot and not always be the week before Easter.

That describes this year pretty well. There were 2 federal holidays and the break for grading this year in Jan and Feb. Many years we have little to no snow, this year we were dumped on. March is always a bunch of 5 day weeks April is all five day weeks this year except half a week of spring break. The only holidays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who pays for care on days off. The parents usually just trade using vacation days, telework if possible, use grandparents, or team up with friends.

You know why they do that? Because finding child care on erratic, random days is very difficult.

The calendar is not good for students and their education and that's my main problem with it. I would actually PAY to have education be at the forefront of FCPS. I have HS students so childcare is no longer a concern for me but both my husband and children find this calendar detrimental. "It's been hard to lock in this year" is a refrain I hear a lot from my kids and their friends. We don't need all these days off to relax and sleep.

There it is again. The calendar is not good for students and their education.

PROVE IT. Where is the data that suggests that? Are there lower test scores? Lower overall GPAs? Are reading levels progressing slower? Lower SAT scores? Lower graduation rates? Where are the actual FACTS? Not your opinion or your anecdotal evidence based on your kid and their friends. Real hard data.

Because if you don’t have that you have nothing but your opinion and everyone knows what they say about opinions…

You want actual data, not anecdotes. Multiple nonpartisan research groups - including Brown University, Stanford University, RAND, Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, and UConn’s Neag School—have all found the same thing: when districts reduce or destabilize instructional time, student achievement drops.

• Brown University & Stanford University (EdWorkingPaper 22‑653, 2023–24)
“Lost instructional time has consistently negative effects on student achievement.”
https://www.edworkingpapers.com/ai22-653

• Harvard Shorenstein Center – Journalist’s Resource (2025)
Peer‑reviewed studies show districts with reduced or inconsistent weekly schedules see lower test scores, *especially in math*
https://journalistsresource.org/education/four-day-school-week-research

• RAND Corporation (2023)
Irregular or shortened weekly schedules come with academic tradeoffs, including measurable declines in core subjects.
https://www.rand.org/blog/2023/04/the-four-day-school-week-are-the-pros-worth-the-cons.html

• UConn Neag School of Education / CEPARE (2024)
Fragmented or frequently altered schedules disrupt instructional continuity and harm learning.
https://education.uconn.edu/2024/01/03/around-the-block-evaluating-school-schedules

• American Psychological Association (2024)
Schedule structure - timing, consistency, predictability - has measurable effects on academic performance and attendance.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/08/schools-shift-later-start-times

So yes, there is data. And it’s remarkably consistent: When instructional time becomes irregular or fragmented, student outcomes decline. FCPS’s calendar fits the exact pattern the research warns about.

Thank you. It will be interesting to see FCPS’ data in the coming years.

The links aren’t working for some of these. The others say the studies that have been done on it aren’t great. One says increasing the time is most 8mportsnt which Virginia does by having kids go to school longer each day. That is why there are so many snow days available.