Shorter summer, longer fall and spring breaks, get rid of the random PD days and replace with a week of PD at the end of the school year.

Learning loss over the summer is real. A month of camp is reasonable (or 2-3 weeks of camp plus a family holiday for those who can do it). 10 weeks off is not and results in boredom, backsliding, and is a major financial hit for families that comes all at once instead of spread out throughout the year. It also creates a planning stress because no camp lasts all summer, many families have to piecemeal the summer together.

Having longer breaks throughout the year combats fatigue and boredom for kids and teachers, getting rid of the lengthy summer break facilitates both teaching and learning.

If one month seems too short for people, then let's try 6 weeks of summer.

But OP wanting to lengthen summer flies in the face of both family practicalities and everything we know about learning and retention.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us like a shorter summer. I like having fewer weeks of camp to arrange and pay for.

I wish they would go truly year round so that we have only had a month of summer, spring break was two weeks, there was a true fall break, etc.

DCPS intentionally seeks to keep summers shorter in order to keep kids occupied and reduce child are burden/costs on working parents.

-------------------
So people would be in school during 8 or 9 weeks of summer when they should be at the beach, camps on vacation etc.
------------------
Similar number of non school days except they have R/PD days and no school on election day. Is child care magically free on those days?
How about during a fall break and double spring break?
---------------------------------
Don't get me wrong I would not be against a two week spring break but 1 month of summer would be awful.

No one is on vacation or at the beach for 8-9 weeks of summer. And if they somehow are, they can go to the beach for 5 weeks in the summer, and go skiing for 3 weeks in january instead, or to the lake for 3 weeks in the fall, or to europe for 3 weeks in the spring.

Anonymous wrote:Some of us like a shorter summer. I like having fewer weeks of camp to arrange and pay for.

I wish they would go truly year round so that we have only had a month of summer, spring break was two weeks, there was a true fall break, etc.

DCPS intentionally seeks to keep summers shorter in order to keep kids occupied and reduce child are burden/costs on working parents.

-------------------
So people would be in school during 8 or 9 weeks of summer when they should be at the beach, camps on vacation etc.
------------------
Similar number of non school days except they have R/PD days and no school on election day. Is child care magically free on those days?
How about during a fall break and double spring break?
---------------------------------
Don't get me wrong I would not be against a two week spring break but 1 month of summer would be awful.

Anonymous wrote:Summer is great! I loved it as a kid and love it as an adult. You summer-haters are curmudgeons.

Curious how you love it as an adult. Don’t you just have your kids in camps while you work?
And did you have a SAHP as a kid or did you love day camps?

Summer is great! I loved it as a kid and love it as an adult. You summer-haters are curmudgeons.

Anonymous wrote:I want a shorter summer too. In fact, I think we should do year-round school. Would solve some crime issues in DC as well. Summer weather here sucks, who wants to have free time then?

Summer weather sucks everywhere. I don’t even like to travel during the summer as it’s too miserable.

I want a shorter summer too. In fact, I think we should do year-round school. Would solve some crime issues in DC as well. Summer weather here sucks, who wants to have free time then?

Anonymous wrote:I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

+1. I do think there is something cultural about summer break but it's no longer a need. The new need is to not lose learning. I'd love to see 3 week breaks during the school year and a 6 week summer break. Wrap the holidays/PD into the 3 week breaks. Wouldn't it be lovely to take spend the winter holidays with family AND then go on a nuclear family winter vacation in Jan when prices come down!

I like a shorter summer.

I want:
-Give kids two approved religious absences for religious observance.
-Fewer random days off
-a week long break in February
-a week long break in October (or fall)
-stop tying spring break to Easter.
-no half days ever

I love having a shorter summer.

Anonymous wrote:Some of us like a shorter summer. I like having fewer weeks of camp to arrange and pay for.

I wish they would go truly year round so that we have only had a month of summer, spring break was two weeks, there was a true fall break, etc.

DCPS intentionally seeks to keep summers shorter in order to keep kids occupied and reduce child are burden/costs on working parents.

All it does is put random off days during the school year rather than in the summer when camp exists for younger children and older children can get jobs or go to summer school.

Some of us like a shorter summer. I like having fewer weeks of camp to arrange and pay for.

I wish they would go truly year round so that we have only had a month of summer, spring break was two weeks, there was a true fall break, etc.

DCPS intentionally seeks to keep summers shorter in order to keep kids occupied and reduce child are burden/costs on working parents.

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps even more simply would just be to get rid of have of those damned PD days. 10 is completely ridiculous.

It's not even 10 calendar dates, it's 12 with 4 of them being counted as HALF PD days along with records days. The election day being a complete off day is ridiculous too. Why can't PD be that day if it's in November? In June it's useless all together. This year's calendar should be ending the previous week making the election day a non issue. Get rid of 2 PD (or HALF PD) days and it ends by June 12. Make the municipal law hours to handle snow days and the last day stays stationary.

Perhaps even more simply would just be to get rid of have of those damned PD days. 10 is completely ridiculous.

Fewer PD days
School on records days (maybe a short day) - If parents don't like them have the schools hold a childcare program between the early dismissal and regular dismissal times.
Hold PD or go virtual on the November election day instead of a complete non school day.
If there is an election day in early June go virtual, if in mid-June end the year before it.
Change the municipal law to hours so there is a buffer for snow days without having to all of them up.
Change the 26-27 calendar to August 24-June 10/11 OR August 31-June 17 depending if people prefer earlier start/end or later.
27-28 would be August 23-June 8/9 OR August 30-June 15
28-29 should be August 28-June 14/15 since August 21 is too early