Which Schools will have extended school year in 2016-2017?

[Anonymous]

This year at Raymond they added three days to the December calendar. So Raymond was in session on December 21, 22 and 23 (while other DC schools were out the 18th). They returned to school the same as everyone else only it was a intercession week. The intercession was run exactly like a regular school day. No enrichment, reading in the morning and math in the afternoon. They currently are in school until July 8. The summer vacation will be about 2 1/2 weeks. There was no week off in October (maybe DCPS is adjusting the schedule for next year?). My daughter is in kinder and after speaking to some parents they had a lot of staff leave after last year. There are a lot of young looking teachers so I can only assume most don't have any experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wake up and smell the coffee. If this is meant to be beneficial for everyone and not to serve struggling kids, why are all the selected schools Title I schools that are struggling. I don't see this being implemented in Ward 3. Come on people!

I'm the PP (clipped this due to length). Honestly, I wasn't talking about all kids in DC. I was talking about all the kids at my school, who I think will benefit from this change. I know damn well why these schools were selected, and I'm fine with that decision. If Ward 3 doesn't think this is what its schools need, that's fine. My child is not struggling academically at her Title I school, but I still think this will be good for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year at Raymond they added three days to the December calendar. So Raymond was in session on December 21, 22 and 23 (while other DC schools were out the 18th). They returned to school the same as everyone else only it was a intercession week. The intercession was run exactly like a regular school day. No enrichment, reading in the morning and math in the afternoon. They currently are in school until July 8. The summer vacation will be about 2 1/2 weeks. There was no week off in October (maybe DCPS is adjusting the schedule for next year?). My daughter is in kinder and after speaking to some parents they had a lot of staff leave after last year. There are a lot of young looking teachers so I can only assume most don't have any experience.

Does your child go to Raymond now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year at Raymond they added three days to the December calendar. So Raymond was in session on December 21, 22 and 23 (while other DC schools were out the 18th). They returned to school the same as everyone else only it was a intercession week. The intercession was run exactly like a regular school day. No enrichment, reading in the morning and math in the afternoon. They currently are in school until July 8. The summer vacation will be about 2 1/2 weeks. There was no week off in October (maybe DCPS is adjusting the schedule for next year?). My daughter is in kinder and after speaking to some parents they had a lot of staff leave after last year. There are a lot of young looking teachers so I can only assume most don't have any experience.

Does your child go to Raymond now?

"My daughter is in kinder..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year at Raymond they added three days to the December calendar. So Raymond was in session on December 21, 22 and 23 (while other DC schools were out the 18th). They returned to school the same as everyone else only it was a intercession week. The intercession was run exactly like a regular school day. No enrichment, reading in the morning and math in the afternoon. They currently are in school until July 8. The summer vacation will be about 2 1/2 weeks. There was no week off in October (maybe DCPS is adjusting the schedule for next year?). My daughter is in kinder and after speaking to some parents they had a lot of staff leave after last year. There are a lot of young looking teachers so I can only assume most don't have any experience.

Again, that sounds brutal. But how is summer only 2.5 weeks? When does school begin in August? Are you writing from child/parent perspective or teacher?

[Anonymous]

The last I spoke to my daughters teacher (administration is not very accessible) she were unsure of the start date for the 2016-2017 school year. Also, she was unsure if students would have to make up the snow days we missed for the blizzard. So I guess best case scenario is a three week summer vacation, worst case would be 2 1/2 weeks (with make up days).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The last I spoke to my daughters teacher (administration is not very accessible) she were unsure of the start date for the 2016-2017 school year. Also, she was unsure if students would have to make up the snow days we missed for the blizzard. So I guess best case scenario is a three week summer vacation, worst case would be 2 1/2 weeks (with make up days).

My understanding is that the 2015-2016 school year will proceed as previously scheduled (with whatever snow day adjustment the rest of DCPS gets), with classes beginning for 2016-2017 on August 8. Unless she is very much mistaken, this is not something that is commencing immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

How are they being bullied into voting yes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

How are they being bullied into voting yes?

Not the PP, but I think that there is an element of bullying in announcing that these 10 schools will be doing extended year and then voting on it afterward. If you vote no and the school has to un-announce, then you're complicit in a public relations debacle. Also, these schools wouldn't be part of this pilot without the support of the principal, so if you vote no, you're immediately in opposition to your boss, which in many if not most cases means that they're looking to get rid of you and you're looking to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

How are they being bullied into voting yes?

Not the PP, but I think that there is an element of bullying in announcing that these 10 schools will be doing extended year and then voting on it afterward. If you vote no and the school has to un-announce, then you're complicit in a public relations debacle. Also, these schools wouldn't be part of this pilot without the support of the principal, so if you vote no, you're immediately in opposition to your boss, which in many if not most cases means that they're looking to get rid of you and you're looking to leave.

Is it a secret ballot or do they know how people vote?
If this were me and I didn't want to work that calendar I would have no problem voting no, even if there were no secret ballot. I'd leave the school if they took up the longer calendar and I didn't want to work it, even for more pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

How are they being bullied into voting yes?

Not the PP, but I think that there is an element of bullying in announcing that these 10 schools will be doing extended year and then voting on it afterward. If you vote no and the school has to un-announce, then you're complicit in a public relations debacle. Also, these schools wouldn't be part of this pilot without the support of the principal, so if you vote no, you're immediately in opposition to your boss, which in many if not most cases means that they're looking to get rid of you and you're looking to leave.

Well they needed to announce it before the lottery was over - so that any families who were certain they didn't want to attend a school on that schedule would have an opportunity to opt out.

I was surprised to read the comment that half the charters do ESY. Haynes, KIPP - which other ones? Perhaps that why those get the lion's share of private foundation dollars, because it's expensive to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

How are they being bullied into voting yes?

Not the PP, but I think that there is an element of bullying in announcing that these 10 schools will be doing extended year and then voting on it afterward. If you vote no and the school has to un-announce, then you're complicit in a public relations debacle. Also, these schools wouldn't be part of this pilot without the support of the principal, so if you vote no, you're immediately in opposition to your boss, which in many if not most cases means that they're looking to get rid of you and you're looking to leave.

Is it a secret ballot or do they know how people vote?
If this were me and I didn't want to work that calendar I would have no problem voting no, even if there were no secret ballot. I'd leave the school if they took up the longer calendar and I didn't want to work it, even for more pay.

I am not a teacher, so I do not know the procedures. From speaking with teacher friends, I do know that leaving a school they've taught in for a while is not usually an easy decision. People build relationships with their colleagues and care about their students. Obviously all that goes on the "pro" side of the list while "longer schedule I do not want to work" goes on the other side, but I think it's probably not an easy decision for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

How are they being bullied into voting yes?

Not the PP, but I think that there is an element of bullying in announcing that these 10 schools will be doing extended year and then voting on it afterward. If you vote no and the school has to un-announce, then you're complicit in a public relations debacle. Also, these schools wouldn't be part of this pilot without the support of the principal, so if you vote no, you're immediately in opposition to your boss, which in many if not most cases means that they're looking to get rid of you and you're looking to leave.

Well they needed to announce it before the lottery was over - so that any families who were certain they didn't want to attend a school on that schedule would have an opportunity to opt out.

I was surprised to read the comment that half the charters do ESY. Haynes, KIPP - which other ones? Perhaps that why those get the lion's share of private foundation dollars, because it's expensive to do.

Many of the boot camp charters like KIPP do extended day, as much as 2 hours extra per day. It's their main recipe for success. It works but it burns out teachers quickly. Not as many charters do extended year.

these schools are happy to burn out teachers for results. Also some families drop out. And, as has been well documented on DCUM, high SES families avoid these schools so they remain 100 percent poor and focused on achieving results for the poor. I had thought that DCPS was pursuing a more balanced set of goals including SES diversity in EOTP schools. This extended year initiative suggests to me that they are ok trading in diversity to get results with the poorest. We'll see what happens with high-SES enrollment at HD Cooke. Too early to tell now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really surprised they could do this without a union vote -

"Davis said Bowser and Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson made their decision without consulting any of the four unions that represent school workers in the District. She said the WTU has submitted a complaint about the process."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-school-year-is-about-to-get-longer-for-thousands-of-dc-schoolchildren/2016/02/03/e2de8128-ca29-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html

they can't. It will not go forward as planned. This needs to be negotiated directly with WTU.

They can get around that by forcing the teachers into voting for it at the school level. If they get like 75% of teachers to vote yes, they push forward. Teachers are being bullied into voting yes.

DCPS cannot negotiate directly with teachers, WTU is the sole bargaining unit.