Anonymous
03/11/2026 15:01
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Melt and learning loss are much worse the longer summers are, it’s not really a question. If you don’t supplement or maintain at all- and let’s be honest here most dc families do not, for various reasons- kids who are on average pretty far behind only fall further behind. Shorter summers are just much better for kids unless you think you- the parent- add more educational value than a school.
Fall behind what though? The majority of kids have summer break and the majority aren't supplementing over the summer- even private school kids. They are all in the same boat. Everybody loses a little and they get it back.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 14:40
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Melt and learning loss are much worse the longer summers are, it’s not really a question. If you don’t supplement or maintain at all- and let’s be honest here most dc families do not, for various reasons- kids who are on average pretty far behind only fall further behind. Shorter summers are just much better for kids unless you think you- the parent- add more educational value than a school.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 13:24
Subject: Re:Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Here is what our charter does that is great. 1/2 day Fridays every week so Friday afternoon is PD day. They also provide after school programming on Fridays for those that need childcare for a small fee but sliding scale so FARMs families, it’s nothing.
It’s great for going away for the weekend to get out of the city early Friday for a longer weekend. We love it.
Also the other few days off they try to book it as a friday so 3 day weekend or a Thursday or Monday of that Friday is a holiday.
Win/win for everyone!
It’s great for going away for the weekend to get out of the city early Friday for a longer weekend. We love it.
Also the other few days off they try to book it as a friday so 3 day weekend or a Thursday or Monday of that Friday is a holiday.
Win/win for everyone!
Anonymous
03/11/2026 13:13
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCPS is not going to eliminate summer, so this is a moot argument.
They are also not going to lengthen summer because despite the myopia of people on this board, the majority of students in DCPS come from poor, working class, and middle class families who are not spending summer traveling internationally and crafting bespoke experiences for their children. Most families in DCPS are struggling to cover childcare so they can continue going to their full time jobs that also don't take a break in the summer.
If you want more control over your family's schedule, homeschooling is a viable option for families with a lot of resources who want to be able to take longer breaks and travel more. There are homeschool collectives in DC that even provide group class experiences, field trips, and other programming so that your child still gets a communal education.
DCPS is not a bespoke, custom-for-you educational opportunity. It's a public school district. If you are sitting around on DCUM at 10:30am on a Tuesday lamenting 8-9 weeks is simply not enough time to fit in all your leisure activity during the summer, you are not the average DCPS family and are going to have to work that problem out for yourself.
I know self-awareness is hard, but it's not THIS hard, folks.
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DC used to have 1 more week of summer so it is doable. They require way too many PD days. https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/DCPS%20School%20Calendar%202007-2008.pdf
This. The PD days are terrible because it requires parents to find childcare for one day which is challenging. Some parents are forced to take vacation days on these days.
At least with summer, there is paid camps, DPR camos, grandparents to visit for week or two, or whatever that would be easier to cover.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 12:32
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:DCPS is not going to eliminate summer, so this is a moot argument.
They are also not going to lengthen summer because despite the myopia of people on this board, the majority of students in DCPS come from poor, working class, and middle class families who are not spending summer traveling internationally and crafting bespoke experiences for their children. Most families in DCPS are struggling to cover childcare so they can continue going to their full time jobs that also don't take a break in the summer.
If you want more control over your family's schedule, homeschooling is a viable option for families with a lot of resources who want to be able to take longer breaks and travel more. There are homeschool collectives in DC that even provide group class experiences, field trips, and other programming so that your child still gets a communal education.
DCPS is not a bespoke, custom-for-you educational opportunity. It's a public school district. If you are sitting around on DCUM at 10:30am on a Tuesday lamenting 8-9 weeks is simply not enough time to fit in all your leisure activity during the summer, you are not the average DCPS family and are going to have to work that problem out for yourself.
I know self-awareness is hard, but it's not THIS hard, folks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DC used to have 1 more week of summer so it is doable. They require way too many PD days. https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/DCPS%20School%20Calendar%202007-2008.pdf
Anonymous
03/10/2026 10:29
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
DCPS is not going to eliminate summer, so this is a moot argument.
They are also not going to lengthen summer because despite the myopia of people on this board, the majority of students in DCPS come from poor, working class, and middle class families who are not spending summer traveling internationally and crafting bespoke experiences for their children. Most families in DCPS are struggling to cover childcare so they can continue going to their full time jobs that also don't take a break in the summer.
If you want more control over your family's schedule, homeschooling is a viable option for families with a lot of resources who want to be able to take longer breaks and travel more. There are homeschool collectives in DC that even provide group class experiences, field trips, and other programming so that your child still gets a communal education.
DCPS is not a bespoke, custom-for-you educational opportunity. It's a public school district. If you are sitting around on DCUM at 10:30am on a Tuesday lamenting 8-9 weeks is simply not enough time to fit in all your leisure activity during the summer, you are not the average DCPS family and are going to have to work that problem out for yourself.
I know self-awareness is hard, but it's not THIS hard, folks.
They are also not going to lengthen summer because despite the myopia of people on this board, the majority of students in DCPS come from poor, working class, and middle class families who are not spending summer traveling internationally and crafting bespoke experiences for their children. Most families in DCPS are struggling to cover childcare so they can continue going to their full time jobs that also don't take a break in the summer.
If you want more control over your family's schedule, homeschooling is a viable option for families with a lot of resources who want to be able to take longer breaks and travel more. There are homeschool collectives in DC that even provide group class experiences, field trips, and other programming so that your child still gets a communal education.
DCPS is not a bespoke, custom-for-you educational opportunity. It's a public school district. If you are sitting around on DCUM at 10:30am on a Tuesday lamenting 8-9 weeks is simply not enough time to fit in all your leisure activity during the summer, you are not the average DCPS family and are going to have to work that problem out for yourself.
I know self-awareness is hard, but it's not THIS hard, folks.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 10:23
Subject: Re:Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:How utterly depressing to take away summer for kids and force them to be in school.
I guess you could make a case for the kids who need it and are so, so far below grade level.
But the rest, no way. We would pivot to private if that was the case. Oh and the parents in the popular charters would have a huge uproar over this and it won’t be happening in the popular charters.
DCPS could do this and the SES divide would be even greater between DCPS and charters as charters bleed higher income families.
typo as DCPS bleeds
Anonymous
03/10/2026 10:22
Subject: Re:Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
How utterly depressing to take away summer for kids and force them to be in school.
I guess you could make a case for the kids who need it and are so, so far below grade level.
But the rest, no way. We would pivot to private if that was the case. Oh and the parents in the popular charters would have a huge uproar over this and it won’t be happening in the popular charters.
DCPS could do this and the SES divide would be even greater between DCPS and charters as charters bleed higher income families.
I guess you could make a case for the kids who need it and are so, so far below grade level.
But the rest, no way. We would pivot to private if that was the case. Oh and the parents in the popular charters would have a huge uproar over this and it won’t be happening in the popular charters.
DCPS could do this and the SES divide would be even greater between DCPS and charters as charters bleed higher income families.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 09:55
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You know how this would work in high school? First, you will have a sports/modelUN/robotics/etc commitment on everyone of those Fall, Winter, or Spring breaks that no one else has.
Your child won't be able to have a summer job or internship. Just misc dats during the year to play video games.
Forget summer school.
Do any of you visit relatives with kids outside of DC during the summer?
Forget seeing cousins.
Love this take. Too many families don’t expect their kids to work anymore. Having a longer break in the summer is so important for kids to find other ways to engage outside of school and for parents to have a consistent and predictable schedule for finding consistent alternative care.
Seriously, there is more to a kids life then school esp if that kid is doing fine.
Summer is for travel, seeing families, fun camps, pools days, etc…
Take away summer and you will see so many UMC families leave DCPS…….. It’s bad enough the shirt summer now and short holiday breaks. The private schools schedules are so much better.
You would all have a FIT if there were LESS school days and summer break was 9-10 weeks.
Nope. I wish my kid had 10-12 weeks off like I did as a kid. I can’t fit everything in that he wants to do in the summer and travel because it’s so short!
Same. This is a country of immigrants and a mobile labor force. That means many people have family in other counties, states or countries. That is the strength of the community. In the last three years, we have taken outher DCPS families who would not normally have this opportunity, to overseas trips, and paid for tickets. We have also benefited hugely from meeting their families closer to the DMV area (rural Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania). The summer is a fantastic time to explore beyond the usual environment, AND DC gets so oppressive July 15-August 15. I would love a longer summer, and I don't see why you can't give the option of a longer summer to families who prefer it (you could even assign work for them to do while away).
Anonymous
03/10/2026 09:52
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You know how this would work in high school? First, you will have a sports/modelUN/robotics/etc commitment on everyone of those Fall, Winter, or Spring breaks that no one else has.
Your child won't be able to have a summer job or internship. Just misc dats during the year to play video games.
Forget summer school.
Do any of you visit relatives with kids outside of DC during the summer?
Forget seeing cousins.
Love this take. Too many families don’t expect their kids to work anymore. Having a longer break in the summer is so important for kids to find other ways to engage outside of school and for parents to have a consistent and predictable schedule for finding consistent alternative care.
Seriously, there is more to a kids life then school esp if that kid is doing fine.
Summer is for travel, seeing families, fun camps, pools days, etc…
Take away summer and you will see so many UMC families leave DCPS…….. It’s bad enough the shirt summer now and short holiday breaks. The private schools schedules are so much better.
You would all have a FIT if there were LESS school days and summer break was 9-10 weeks.
FEWER *sigh*
Anonymous
03/09/2026 22:33
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You know how this would work in high school? First, you will have a sports/modelUN/robotics/etc commitment on everyone of those Fall, Winter, or Spring breaks that no one else has.
Your child won't be able to have a summer job or internship. Just misc dats during the year to play video games.
Forget summer school.
Do any of you visit relatives with kids outside of DC during the summer?
Forget seeing cousins.
Love this take. Too many families don’t expect their kids to work anymore. Having a longer break in the summer is so important for kids to find other ways to engage outside of school and for parents to have a consistent and predictable schedule for finding consistent alternative care.
Seriously, there is more to a kids life then school esp if that kid is doing fine.
Summer is for travel, seeing families, fun camps, pools days, etc…
Take away summer and you will see so many UMC families leave DCPS…….. It’s bad enough the shirt summer now and short holiday breaks. The private schools schedules are so much better.
You would all have a FIT if there were LESS school days and summer break was 9-10 weeks.
Nope. I wish my kid had 10-12 weeks off like I did as a kid. I can’t fit everything in that he wants to do in the summer and travel because it’s so short!
Anonymous
03/09/2026 21:19
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You know how this would work in high school? First, you will have a sports/modelUN/robotics/etc commitment on everyone of those Fall, Winter, or Spring breaks that no one else has.
Your child won't be able to have a summer job or internship. Just misc dats during the year to play video games.
Forget summer school.
Do any of you visit relatives with kids outside of DC during the summer?
Forget seeing cousins.
Love this take. Too many families don’t expect their kids to work anymore. Having a longer break in the summer is so important for kids to find other ways to engage outside of school and for parents to have a consistent and predictable schedule for finding consistent alternative care.
Seriously, there is more to a kids life then school esp if that kid is doing fine.
Summer is for travel, seeing families, fun camps, pools days, etc…
Take away summer and you will see so many UMC families leave DCPS…….. It’s bad enough the shirt summer now and short holiday breaks. The private schools schedules are so much better.
You would all have a FIT if there were LESS school days and summer break was 9-10 weeks.
I wouldn't. I can figure out somethine constructive for my kids to do in the summer -- or now one of them is old enough to figure it out for himself. But what are they going to do that's useful this Friday? Nothing. Could we go somewhere for the long weekend if I could swing it? Nope -- they've got extracurricular commitments.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 21:14
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You know how this would work in high school? First, you will have a sports/modelUN/robotics/etc commitment on everyone of those Fall, Winter, or Spring breaks that no one else has.
Your child won't be able to have a summer job or internship. Just misc dats during the year to play video games.
Forget summer school.
Do any of you visit relatives with kids outside of DC during the summer?
Forget seeing cousins.
Love this take. Too many families don’t expect their kids to work anymore. Having a longer break in the summer is so important for kids to find other ways to engage outside of school and for parents to have a consistent and predictable schedule for finding consistent alternative care.
Seriously, there is more to a kids life then school esp if that kid is doing fine.
Summer is for travel, seeing families, fun camps, pools days, etc…
Take away summer and you will see so many UMC families leave DCPS…….. It’s bad enough the shirt summer now and short holiday breaks. The private schools schedules are so much better.
You would all have a FIT if there were LESS school days and summer break was 9-10 weeks.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 21:04
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:You know how this would work in high school? First, you will have a sports/modelUN/robotics/etc commitment on everyone of those Fall, Winter, or Spring breaks that no one else has.
Your child won't be able to have a summer job or internship. Just misc dats during the year to play video games.
Forget summer school.
Do any of you visit relatives with kids outside of DC during the summer? Forget seeing cousins.
+1
DCPS’ spring break being different from everywhere already causes problems for extra curriculars. Families wouldn’t be able to travel for the random two week break in October because Sally will have field hockey games and a debate tournament.
Anonymous
03/08/2026 19:52
Subject: Summer is getting shorter. Fix the 26-29 calendars
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You know how this would work in high school? First, you will have a sports/modelUN/robotics/etc commitment on everyone of those Fall, Winter, or Spring breaks that no one else has.
Your child won't be able to have a summer job or internship. Just misc dats during the year to play video games.
Forget summer school.
Do any of you visit relatives with kids outside of DC during the summer?
Forget seeing cousins.
Love this take. Too many families don’t expect their kids to work anymore. Having a longer break in the summer is so important for kids to find other ways to engage outside of school and for parents to have a consistent and predictable schedule for finding consistent alternative care.
Seriously, there is more to a kids life then school esp if that kid is doing fine.
Summer is for travel, seeing families, fun camps, pools days, etc…
Take away summer and you will see so many UMC families leave DCPS…….. It’s bad enough the shirt summer now and short holiday breaks. The private schools schedules are so much better.
typo short