They go by minutes, and apparently when added up it equals to 9 instructional days. One day is built in. Hey, I don't understand it, but it's what we are told.

Anonymous wrote:To clarify, my VA school system is scheduled to end school next year on June 20th for elementary, June 19th for middle school, and June 15th for high school. The school system got rid of early release every Wednesday in favor of 5 for professional learning early dismissals. We go back to work on August 24th. We are scheduled to have 181 teaching days. Our school system added 6 minutes to our work day after that big snow storm a number of years ago, and never took them back. Because of that, we now have 10 snow day built into our calendar. As a county resident when I was given the option to bring my child to my school system, I grabbed it. We would have a very different schedule if she went to our neighborhood school. Even though the program allowing us to bring our children has ended, she has been grandfathered in and will continue to attend school in my district until she graduates.

How does adding 6 minutes to each school day add 10 days to the calendar? Does your state count minutes in liue of counting days? I don't get how that works.

To clarify, my VA school system is scheduled to end school next year on June 20th for elementary, June 19th for middle school, and June 15th for high school. The school system got rid of early release every Wednesday in favor of 5 for professional learning early dismissals. We go back to work on August 24th. We are scheduled to have 181 teaching days. Our school system added 6 minutes to our work day after that big snow storm a number of years ago, and never took them back. Because of that, we now have 10 snow day built into our calendar. As a county resident when I was given the option to bring my child to my school system, I grabbed it. We would have a very different schedule if she went to our neighborhood school. Even though the program allowing us to bring our children has ended, she has been grandfathered in and will continue to attend school in my district until she graduates.

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to my world. As a resident of PG, who teaches in NOVA, this has been the norm for us for years. AND they still end school before we do!

VA and MD both require public schools to have 180 days. How does your VA school end before MD schools? Do they not take Spring and Winter breaks?

Or do they not take any teacher professional/work days? I know some VA school districts have early dismissal every week. A 2 hour early dismissal still counts as a full day I believe. That may be a direction PGCPS will have to look into -- closing early every Wednesday.

Welcome to my world. As a resident of PG, who teaches in NOVA, this has been the norm for us for years. AND they still end school before we do!

Anonymous wrote:Waiver Denied: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/PGCPS/bulletins/18a45e8?reqfrom=share

School will start on Sept. 6 and end June 13.

Here's the full calendar: http://www1.pgcps.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=240034

Yep, glad to finally get the news. Gonna be a long summer

Waiver Denied: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/PGCPS/bulletins/18a45e8?reqfrom=share

School will start on Sept. 6 and end June 13.

Here's the full calendar: http://www1.pgcps.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=240034

Anonymous wrote:Ok this issue is complicated so bear with me I can type up an explanation as to why PGCPS but not mcps after the kids are in bed, lol.
In the meantime here is an article in the pg sentinel. Long story short, I don't know all the dealings done amongst MD counties behind the scenes, but it sounds like PG county, as the county most impacted, has decided to be the test case in an act of civil disobedience.

http://thesentinel.com/pgs/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3415%3Apgcps-may-be-gearing-up-to-take-on-executive-order&Itemid=766

Parent of a high schooler here. Honestly, I applaud our district for doing this. Pardon me while I step on my soapbox for a second. The compressed calendar that would be necessary under Gov. Hogan's EO was going to wreck havoc. There have already been sacrifices made to accommodate a bunch of stuff that isn't really learning (PARCC testing, anyone?) resulting in some truly ridiculous things like PE only being taken for one quarter in middle school, or having to choose between music and art. Or, in my son's case, asking me to sign off with permission to skip a lunch period to accommodate all the classes he wants to take next year. At least our teachers still had some planning and PD days, which they need to do their jobs effectively. And, we are all already aware of what kind of scramble those with younger kids were going to have to do in a county where most summer programs end halfway through August.

So, yes. It's a royal PITA. It's ridiculous. I'm trying to plan family vacation travel and am having a time. But I am proud of PGCPS for standing up to this BS.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Prince-Georges-County-Schools-Apply-for-School-Start-Waiver-414950463.html

"Prince George's County Public Schools could learn Tuesday if they'll get a waiver from the state to begin the 2017- 2018 school year in August.
In an 8-4 vote, the county school board chose to defy Governor Larry Hogan's executive order mandating Maryland public schools have a post-Labor Day start.
Multiple state officials told the News4 I-Team they received a formal waiver request from the school system Monday night. A formal decision could be handed down as early as Tuesday morning, the I-Team has learned.
This Prince George's case will be closely watched by other districts statewide.
Montgomery County schools voted Monday night for a school calendar that begins post-Labor Day for the 2017-2018. school year. "

OK, news reports are saying we might hear by today whether the waiver has been granted.

I actually want school to start after Labor Day and I want pgcps to announce that. So whom should I call in that case? The school board? I want them to give up the idea of fighting this.