Anonymous wrote:The Alexandria modified calendar schools offer classes (either remedial or enrichment) during intercession to help alleviate the child are issue. It's in place at two of the schools with very high numbers of low income kids and gives them opportunities to participate in activities they might never get a chance to otherwise (things like karate).

I think it's a great concept.

But as I mentioned, both schools have terrible test scores and achievements have been few and far between so the concept doesn't seem to be all that beneficial.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does year round school work? Do you think this will ever be an option for Fairfax county schools. The three months off for the summer is really tough on working parents.

School is not daycare.

Even students in year-round school are out of the school the same number of days. The main difference is they are off for longer periods during "intersession." So they might be out for three weeks in October, for example.

At least during the summer there are camps you can send them to.

My friends' kids go to a DC charter elem which is year round. There are camps available since many charters in dc are this way.

Personally, I hate August and would rather take a nice long vacation in the off-season. Btw, they still had July off --I think 6 weeks in the summer. I'd love it!

Kids don't suffer from documented " summer brain drain' with the year round schedule. All kids drop off some from where they were in June on the traditional schedule and it is much worse for low income kids.

The Alexandria modified calendar schools offer classes (either remedial or enrichment) during intercession to help alleviate the child are issue. It's in place at two of the schools with very high numbers of low income kids and gives them opportunities to participate in activities they might never get a chance to otherwise (things like karate).

I think it's a great concept.

In North Carolina they have a year round schedule but with different "tracks" so one group of kids (multiple neighborhoods) are always off in a rotating fashion. here is a link to their calendar. with this schedule, it actually allows MORE kids to go to a single school than with a traditional calendar. i like it.

http://www.wcpss.net/Calendars/2012-13/yearround_2012-13.pdf

PP, I'd totally pay more, but I'm sure others don't feel the same way. What's the extra expense if they have the same number of days, just apportioned differently? Is it having to keep the school running all year? Or is it the scheduling of activities during the breaks? I would think if enough schools offered year round, the outside camp providers would step in. That's what happened where my sister lived.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The modified calendar (I prefer this term, as it is a better description than "year round") ended due to budget cuts.
http://ww2.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=1978

I knew teachers who taught at these schools and they loved it. I'm a teacher and I think I would prefer this schedule. Many of my colleagues agree.

I'm a parent who would really like this calendar. How do you think we could fight for it to be an option?

Be ready to put your money where your mouth is. More time means more pay for teachers. When schools in FCPS had modified calendars, there was an "intercession coordinator" that would staff activities and classes for kids to take during those breaks. Teachers were paid to teach them. I'm not saying that it's not worth it. I'm totally in favor of this calendar as well as adding more actual days. But I know that it comes with a price tag. I'm fine paying higher taxes if it means kids are getting a better education. Of course others may disagree.

Talk to your board of Ed representative.

There are two schools in Alex City that are year round. They both are prett dismal examples of modified calendar schools. We were zoned one of them and am a single working parent and I opted out. Rather pay for summer camp then send my kid to a failing school year round.

Anonymous wrote:The modified calendar (I prefer this term, as it is a better description than "year round") ended due to budget cuts.
http://ww2.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=1978

I knew teachers who taught at these schools and they loved it. I'm a teacher and I think I would prefer this schedule. Many of my colleagues agree.

I'm a parent who would really like this calendar. How do you think we could fight for it to be an option?

The modified calendar (I prefer this term, as it is a better description than "year round") ended due to budget cuts.
http://ww2.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=1978

I knew teachers who taught at these schools and they loved it. I'm a teacher and I think I would prefer this schedule. Many of my colleagues agree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does year round school work? Do you think this will ever be an option for Fairfax county schools. The three months off for the summer is really tough on working parents.

School is not daycare.

Even students in year-round school are out of the school the same number of days. The main difference is they are off for longer periods during "intersession." So they might be out for three weeks in October, for example.

At least during the summer there are camps you can send them to.

When you have year round school for a large enough group of kids, you will have the same camps that you have during the summer, but offered during the year. My sister's kids went to year round school in another state. They went to camp during the breaks because she worked FT. She loved it because she could spread the cost of camp over the year, rather than having to spend a big chunk in the summer. Also, they get a summer break. It's about 6 weeks instead of 10, so they kids have summer, but it's not long enough to get bored and to forget 20% of that they learned in school. My kids were asking to go back to school by mid-July.

BTW here is the calendar for the schools in Alexandria that are year-round (hint: they just started the news school year on Monday)

http://www.acps.k12.va.us/calendars/calendar-2012-2013-modified.pdf

Anonymous wrote:How does year round school work? Do you think this will ever be an option for Fairfax county schools. The three months off for the summer is really tough on working parents.

School is not daycare.

Even students in year-round school are out of the school the same number of days. The main difference is they are off for longer periods during "intersession." So they might be out for three weeks in October, for example.

At least during the summer there are camps you can send them to.

Our neighborhood school had Year-Round schooling until it was cut from the budget a few years ago. The school staff was not happy, as they felt it did so much to reduce the losses during the summer. Not sure if there is a push to bring it back.

Year round school is usually same number of days, but instead of a two + month summer vacation, multiple 3 week breaks during the year. THe idea is the kids forget less than during the summer. So, you still have the same day care issues.

FCPS purpose is to educate the kids, not to provide day care.

How does year round school work? Do you think this will ever be an option for Fairfax county schools. The three months off for the summer is really tough on working parents.