how do we get APS to rethink 13 snow days?

[Anonymous]

Agreed on eliminating days off for religious holidays. This got out of hand because, once you've opened the door to some religious observances, you need to accommodate all of them.

[Anonymous]

Only the holidays that result in 50+% of students/teachers being absent should be included.

[Anonymous]

“We” don’t. Your delusions of grandeur are entertaining though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could always pay for private school?

Or homeschool. Then you can set the calendar to fit your preference exactly. Problem solved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always pay for private school?

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

They’re correct. The public offering is the public offering. Take it or leave it. Your sole “power” is your votes for school board and/or voting with your feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only the holidays that result in 50+% of students/teachers being absent should be included.

This. Also, Christmas will always be included as it is a federal holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the holidays that result in 50+% of students/teachers being absent should be included.

This. Also, Christmas will always be included as it is a federal holiday.

I wouldn’t mind having school on Christmas, but as >50% of students/faculty would be absent, it should be included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only the holidays that result in 50+% of students/teachers being absent should be included.

Maybe that makes sense for the student population, but schools stop being functional with staff absences way short of 50%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the holidays that result in 50+% of students/teachers being absent should be included.

Maybe that makes sense for the student population, but schools stop being functional with staff absences way short of 50%.

True. The threshold for teachers should be much lower. But honestly, what % of APS teachers celebrates Diwali? Eid? Chinese New Year?

[Anonymous]

Snow day just announced by APS for Monday 1/6.

[Anonymous]

APS think? come on...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why do you hate being around your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why do you hate being around your kids?

Not this poster, but it isn’t about getting away from your kids. These kids would benefit from more instruction, not less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only the holidays that result in 50+% of students/teachers being absent should be included.

Maybe that makes sense for the student population, but schools stop being functional with staff absences way short of 50%.

It is problematic to have school on religious holidays or federal holidays. A lot of students would be absent, meaning teachers couldn't give tests on those days and have to make up work for students who were out.