Anonymous wrote:All the private schools are an hour longer each day. Do they have fewer number of days?

Our private follows MCPS. The professional days are different, but we have the same number of prof. Days.

FYI:
I've just read the bell time group report. It clearly stated that the 30 minute extension is due to the push back of high school bell time. (Option 3 on page 3)
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/info/belltimesworkgroup/Rpt2013BellTimesWorkGrpReport.pdf

30 min change does not sound long. Well, a question is what the fundamental reason for the increase is.

MCPS uses less time and achieves better education results than the rest of Maryland public schools. This is remarkable. Why not just let kids leave early? They should enjoy more time with their families and have some fun with their friends.

Meanwhile, many younger kids can not behave well at the end of a school day. Extending additional 30 minute may not benefit them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not 5 minutes shortly. Currently, MCPS elem school day is 25 minutes shorter than many school districts in MD, and 50 minutes shorter than some.

Are you keeping in mind that FCPS students in K-6 have an early release every Monday, and MCPS students don't?

FCPS is not in Maryland.

All the private schools are an hour longer each day. Do they have fewer number of days?

Anonymous wrote:It is not 5 minutes shortly. Currently, MCPS elem school day is 25 minutes shorter than many school districts in MD, and 50 minutes shorter than some.

Are you keeping in mind that FCPS students in K-6 have an early release every Monday, and MCPS students don't?

Anonymous wrote:It is not 5 minutes shortly. Currently, MCPS elem school day is 25 minutes shorter than many school districts in MD, and 50 minutes shorter than some.

Could you list the start and end times for these schools by school district, please?

It is not 5 minutes shortly. Currently, MCPS elem school day is 25 minutes shorter than many school districts in MD, and 50 minutes shorter than some.

Anonymous wrote:Also worth noting that currently MCPS has a shorter elementary school day than surrounding districts, not clear why only Mont County kids could not handle the extra 30 mins. Trends across the country are longer not shorter days.

By 5 minutes, I think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been posted before. The overall consensus was that adding time that additional time for lunch and recess would be greatly beneficial for elementary school aged kids, including Kindergartners. Mine has 20 minutes for lunch, which includes waiting for food, etc. And then only 20 minutes for recess.

I am not OP and did not follow that thread but what makes people think that recess and lunch would be extended? I thought it was for instructional time only.

This was the consensus of the posters on this site. Not sure what the MCPS Board or whoever makes these decisions will allocate additional time.

MCPS has said that they are interested in using the time for either new enrichment opportunities (ex. foreign language, STEM) or expanding specials like art and music. Not sure how they would pay for it, but I think this actually sounds like a nice way to give kids new opportunities. I'm sure my kindergarten (who is already in before-and aftercare) could manage an extra 1/2 hour of school.

Also worth noting that currently MCPS has a shorter elementary school day than surrounding districts, not clear why only Mont County kids could not handle the extra 30 mins. Trends across the country are longer not shorter days.

Anonymous wrote:This has been posted before. The overall consensus was that adding time that additional time for lunch and recess would be greatly beneficial for elementary school aged kids, including Kindergartners. Mine has 20 minutes for lunch, which includes waiting for food, etc. And then only 20 minutes for recess.

I am not OP and did not follow that thread but what makes people think that recess and lunch would be extended? I thought it was for instructional time only.

This has been posted before. The overall consensus was that adding time that additional time for lunch and recess would be greatly beneficial for elementary school aged kids, including Kindergartners. Mine has 20 minutes for lunch, which includes waiting for food, etc. And then only 20 minutes for recess.

I apologize if someone else has posted this - but does anyone have concerns about the elementary school day being 30 minutes longer? I don't have concerns for the older grades - but it might be a bit long for the Kindergarteners.