The survey is stupid. They don't actually care what parents think.

Anonymous wrote:This is stupid. The american school calendar does nothing but burn everyone out. They need to adopt a year-round schedule that places regular breaks throughout the school year. The January-June death march then horrific summer slide is counterproductive.

I agree 100%.

This is stupid. The american school calendar does nothing but burn everyone out. They need to adopt a year-round schedule that places regular breaks throughout the school year. The January-June death march then horrific summer slide is counterproductive.

Anonymous wrote:I'm fussed about it. I'm a HS teacher in FCPS with HS aged kids. I think it is horrible, but what can I do? I can complain to the school board, but that seems to accomplish nothing.

It'd require going to the legislature and making them pass a law that sets what qualifies for the 990 hours as only or mainly academics (right now it includes a lot of other stuff), or reverts to just a 180 day requirement since schools can go remote on snow days, or something like that. Or enshrining something in the state constitution. Or having the Governor direct VDOE to make a change.

Basically change happens because masses of parents from multiple districts complain at the state level. That's how SB 1303 was passed and how VMPI stopped even playing footsie with the idea of detracking math.

I'm fussed about it. I'm a HS teacher in FCPS with HS aged kids. I think it is horrible, but what can I do? I can complain to the school board, but that seems to accomplish nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised how un-fussed people seem about all these northern Virginia districts shortening the school year. There's a positive correlation between increased instructional hours and student achievement.

Yes, but parents also complain about shortening summer break too. Northern Virginia is the only place I know that surveys parents’ opinions on the calendar. My home district never did that. They should make a calendar that meets the 180 days and just do it. So sick of this yearly nonsense.

PP here and no argument it's stupid to survey parents. That's relatively new even here.

If you look at survey results, it's true that a majority always vote for less school, but I have trouble believing it's the same majority. Especially given learning loss (unless people supplemented/tutored), kids need school right now.

And also, most people probably don't even realize that their answers taken together shorten the school year. When you are asked amongst a slew of questions "do you want a full week for spring break?", "do you want two full weeks in December?", "do you want to start 1 or 2 weeks before Labor day?", "do you want to get out the second week in June or the third week?" - every answers these individually for the most time off, but they don't sit and look at the big picture. And I include myself in that.

Also, your view on this probably changes depending on the age of your kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised how un-fussed people seem about all these northern Virginia districts shortening the school year. There's a positive correlation between increased instructional hours and student achievement.

Yes, but parents also complain about shortening summer break too. Northern Virginia is the only place I know that surveys parents’ opinions on the calendar. My home district never did that. They should make a calendar that meets the 180 days and just do it. So sick of this yearly nonsense.

PP here and no argument it's stupid to survey parents. That's relatively new even here.

If you look at survey results, it's true that a majority always vote for less school, but I have trouble believing it's the same majority. Especially given learning loss (unless people supplemented/tutored), kids need school right now.

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised how un-fussed people seem about all these northern Virginia districts shortening the school year. There's a positive correlation between increased instructional hours and student achievement.

Yes, but parents also complain about shortening summer break too. Northern Virginia is the only place I know that surveys parents’ opinions on the calendar. My home district never did that. They should make a calendar that meets the 180 days and just do it. So sick of this yearly nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised how un-fussed people seem about all these northern Virginia districts shortening the school year. There's a positive correlation between increased instructional hours and student achievement.

And that is why parents supplement.

Anonymous wrote:i'm still REALLY annoyed that they are taking so long to settle on something. Just decide so we can plan our lives and stop reinventing the wheel every year!

+1-- we used to get the calendar in November or December.

I'm surprised how un-fussed people seem about all these northern Virginia districts shortening the school year. There's a positive correlation between increased instructional hours and student achievement.

i'm still REALLY annoyed that they are taking so long to settle on something. Just decide so we can plan our lives and stop reinventing the wheel every year!

Great. Glad that we are striving to be like Texas with their 165 days per year.

Anonymous wrote:Loudoun's proposed calendar for next year only has 170-172 school days. Will FCPS follow suit? We will have 2 weeks less of school going forward?

Arlington's has fewer days too (176 I believe). I wonder if it has something to do with the 990 hours and snow day flexibility? If we only need 5 snow days they can get 990 hours in a lot less time.

Maybe VDOE or the General Assembly needs to look at all the things they let in 990 hours, like transition time.

FCPS won't have a school board work session to discuss options until 1/11/2022. Leadership is supposed to review them 12/13/2021-12/17/2021, so maybe they will be released somewhere else between now and then?
(https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/how-fcps-develops-its-school-year-calendar)

Loudoun's proposed calendar for next year only has 170-172 school days. Will FCPS follow suit? We will have 2 weeks less of school going forward?