Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Melt and learning loss are much worse the longer summers are, it’s not really a question. If you don’t supplement or maintain at all- and let’s be honest here most dc families do not, for various reasons- kids who are on average pretty far behind only fall further behind. Shorter summers are just much better for kids unless you think you- the parent- add more educational value than a school.

Fall behind what though? The majority of kids have summer break and the majority aren't supplementing over the summer- even private school kids. They are all in the same boat. Everybody loses a little and they get it back.

+1. And the kids doing great are fine.

It’s no secret that teachers spend the 1st few weeks of school reviewing stuff before moving to new material so it’s not like there’s no review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Melt and learning loss are much worse the longer summers are, it’s not really a question. If you don’t supplement or maintain at all- and let’s be honest here most dc families do not, for various reasons- kids who are on average pretty far behind only fall further behind. Shorter summers are just much better for kids unless you think you- the parent- add more educational value than a school.

LOL! Do you actually think 2 weeks less of summer is going to make any dent in the big picture of the kids who are way behind?

Nope. You know what will? Having more accountability and consequences for all the high truancy rates for kids missing 40 plus days of school during the school year every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you shorten summer and add in crazy longer breaks during the year you will have very few teachers. The majority of teachers do not live in the District. It is bad enough that our spring break rarely aligns with Virginia or Maryland. If you then make summer shorter and have us working while our kids are off, and then we are off for weeks while our kids are in school, you will have a mass exodus. And yes, I understand that many of you work while your kids are off in the summer, but many of us chose this profession for the work/life balance it allows for.

Speak for yourself some of us would relish a shorter break and could make it work with our kids. My school like many others would also allow me to bring my child to work.

Also not all teachers are parents, I’ve seen so many teachers also say more breaks during the year would support their mental health. So I think a shorter summer would not cause a mass exodus and if it did DCPS will replace you -as they replace many (especially those not in high need positions).

But I do not think it’s on the agenda right now (shorter summers).

I’m a teacher and I think the idea that teachers can just bring their kids to work for two extra weeks is
1. Unrealistic
2. Unprofessional

I should not be teaching AP Biology while my first and third grade children color in thr back of the room. You cannot teach effectively that way.

I mean you could pay for childcare then, sorry you or your school can’t think outside of the box.

Not sure why this got to you, it’s not on the agenda.

They’re not going to have to “pay for childcare then,” because this ridiculous scheduling non-plan is not going to happen. 🤷‍♀️

[Anonymous]

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

Yes, they did. It failed. It isn’t coming back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Melt and learning loss are much worse the longer summers are, it’s not really a question. If you don’t supplement or maintain at all- and let’s be honest here most dc families do not, for various reasons- kids who are on average pretty far behind only fall further behind. Shorter summers are just much better for kids unless you think you- the parent- add more educational value than a school.

Except DCPS already tried piloting year round school on multiple campuses, and your assertions about “learning loss” were not borne out (thus why year round was discontinued). Oops.