2020-21 School Year Calendars Dan Redding Assistant Superintendent Human Resources February 6, 2020
Goals • Outline the process for developing 2020-2021 APS instructional calendar • Calendar Requirements and Considerations • Discuss calendar options • Share Superintendent recommendation 2
2019-20 Calendar Development Process A fourth Feedback was 3 Calendar option was Calendar Calendar options provided to the Recommendation options were Committee met were presented to Calendar Committee, presented to School developed developed for Community for Superintendent, and Board for approval incorporating in November consideration feedback on choice Executive Leadership and adoption feedback Team 3
Calendar Requirements and Considerations
Calendar Requirements 1. Develop one district- wide “Division Calendar” 2. Align three unique calendars to “Division Calendar” • Arlington Community High School and Langston High School Continuation Program (Semesters Dates) • HB Woodlawn and Shriver Program Calendar (Early Release Dates) • Barcroft Elementary School Calendar (Modified Schedule) 3. Incorporate Summer School Calendar 5
Calendar Requirements 1. VA Code § 22.1-79.1: Opening School Year 2. Students Instructional Days: ▪ 180 days (all levels) ▪ Balance Alternative School Instructional Semesters 3. Teacher Work Days: ▪ 200 contract days required ▪ 194 reporting days (Historical) 4. Recognized School Board and religious holidays outlined in Policy Implementation Procedure G-1.32 PIP-1 Holidays 6
Calendar Considerations 1. Consideration to surrounding school division calendars ▪ Winter Break ▪ Spring Break 2. Consideration for Election Day Bill ▪ Virginia House of Delegates considered a bill requiring public schools to treat election day as a student holiday (may return) ▪ Division calendar and Barcroft calendar both account for the potential passing of the bill ▪ Barcroft staff would participate in offsite Professional Learning/ division staff already participating in telework Grade Prep day ▪ Student holiday in both calendars 7
Calendar Considerations Neighboring Jurisdictions Start Dates Jurisdiction Teachers Return: Students’ First Day Students’ Last Day Alexandria City August 27 (Thurs) September 8 (Tues) June 23 (Wed) Falls Church City August 13 (Thurs) August 24 (Mon) June 10 (Thurs) Fairfax County August 14 (Fri) August 25 (Tues) June 11 (Fri) Loudoun County August 19 (Wed) August 27 (Thurs) June 15 (Tues) Prince William County August 17 (Mon) August 25 (Tues) June 11 (Fri) Neighboring jurisdictions all have 2-week winter break (except Loudoun) Spring Breaks align week of March 29 - April 2 Columbus Day – Oct 12 – all divisions Professional Learning Veterans’ Day – Nov 11 (ACPS – conf day, FCPS E.R. day, Falls Church in school, PWCS - holiday) 8
The Options
Original Calendar Options Calendar 1 Calendar 2 Calendar 3 Pre-Service Week for teachers 6 Days 7 Days 6 Days and 10-month employees August 19-26, 2020 August 27 – September 4, 2020 August 17-24, 2020 First Day of School Pre-Labor Day start Post-Labor Day start Pre-Labor Day start August 27, 2020 September 8, 2020 August 25, 2020 Columbus Day Student Holiday Student Holiday Student Holiday Staff Professional Learning Day Staff Professional Learning Day Staff Professional Learning Day Elementary/Middle Parent 1.5 Days 1.5 Days 1.5 Days Teacher (Early release on Oct. 22) (Early release on Oct. 22) (Early release on Oct. 22) Fall Conferences October 22 – 23, 2020 October 22 – 23, 2020 October 22 – 23, 2020 Winter Break 10 Days 10 Days 10 Days December 21, 2020 – January 1, December 21, 2020 – January 1, 2021 December 21, 2020 – January 2021 1, 2021 Elementary/Middle Parent 1.5 Days 1.5 Days 1.5 Days Teacher (Early release on Feb. 25) (Early release on Mar. 4) (Early release on Feb. 25) Spring Conferences February 25 – 26, 2021 March 4 – 5, 2021 February 25 – 26, 2021 ES/MS Last Day June 17, 2021 June 25, 2021 June 15, 2021 HS Last Day June 15, 2021 June 23, 2021 June 11, 2021 Teacher/10-Month Employee Last June 18, 2021 June 25, 2021 June 16, 2021 Day 10
Feedback
Calendar Committee Makeup • APS school-based administrators • Arlington Education Association Members • TCI Representative • CCPTA representatives • Transportation • Extended Day • Information Services 12
Survey Feedback Pre-Labor Day Start 100% 90% 24% 25% 28% 39% 80% 70% 24% 23% 60% 25% I like it 50% I can live with it 32% I do not like it 40% 30% 53% 52% 47% 20% 29% 10% 0% Parents (n=9,520) Staff (n=3,902) Student (n=1,872) Community (n=1,271) 13
Survey Feedback • Responses to a Pre-Labor Day start • Parents feedback on this option: • Childcare an issue when school starts mid-week • School starts, then holiday for 2-3 days • Vacations booked in advance at end of August • Short notice for this type of change • This past summer there were virtually no camp options open after Fairfax went back to school as APS student enrollments were not enough on their own to keep them open • Staff feedback on this option: • School ends earlier in June • 7 teacher PD and prep days are excessive • Support for keeping two-week winter break • Many staff do not live in Arlington County and are heavily impacted when the calendars vary so greatly compared to our neighboring jurisdictions. Having similar start and end dates is appreciated 14
Survey Feedback • Responses to a Pre-Labor Day start • Community members feedback on this option: • Felt that school should start after Labor Day. Don’t take away summer vacation/time with families “needlessly” • Please consider Jewish Holidays on your school calendars • Wanted the early start date but felt that a two-week winter break was too long and school should end earlier in June • Students feedback on this option: • A junior said that shorter summer will put him/her at a disadvantage for college searches • Students that liked a Pre-Labor Day option because school started early and ended earlier in June 15
Survey Feedback Post-Labor Day Start 100% 90% 24% 80% 43% 47% 47% 70% 26% 60% I like it 50% 18% I can live with it 23% 23% I do not like it 40% 30% 50% 20% 39% 30% 30% 10% 0% Parents (n=4,764) Staff (n=1,958) Student (n=940) Community (n=635) 16
Survey Feedback • Responses for a Post-Labor Day start on September 8 • Parents were concerned that school would end too late in June • coordinating summer camp schedules is an issue with parents with smaller children • many willing to reduce winter break to end school earlier in June • Staff that liked or can live with a Post Labor Day start • Wanted to eliminate Parent/Teacher conferences for elementary schools and reduce preservice days • Community members liked Post-Labor Day Start because • vacation schedules for their grand kids would remain the same • Most responded that school ended too late in June • Students liked Post-Labor Day start because • Arlington County has started school after Labor Day forever don’t change that! Changing tradition will not only anger many people in the community • Many students attend summer programs, if you start school too early we won’t get a summer break • Working students’ summer hours on their jobs continue through Labor Day and they could be let go if they can’t report for work 17
Survey Feedback 100% 90% 24% 24% 25% 28% 39% 80% 43% 47% 47% 70% 24% 23% 26% 60% 25% 50% 18% I like it 32% 23% 23% I can live with it 40% I do not like it 30% 53% 52% 50% 47% 20% 39% 30% 30% 29% 10% 0% Parents Staff Student Community Parents Staff Student Community (n=9,520) (n=3,902) (n=1,872) (n=1,271) (n=4,764) (n=1,958) (n=940) (n=635) Pre-Labor Day Post-Labor Day 18
Calendar Committee Considerations • Importance of time for students to prepare for AP , IB, and CTE exams • Transitioning for September 2020 provides 10 weeks of summer for maintenance and construction projects in summer 2020 and summer 2021 • Summer opportunities for students begin based on our larger neighbors • Create an “Option 4” that settles on one week prior to Labor Day as a transition year 19
Superintendent’s Recommended Calendar 20
Calendar Options Calendar 4 Calendar 2 Superintendent’s Recommendation Post-Labor Day Start Pre-Service Week for 5 Days 7 Days teachers and 10-month August 24-28, 2020 August 27 – September 4, 2020 employees First Day of School Pre-Labor Day start Post-Labor Day start August 31, 2020 September 8, 2020 Columbus Day Student Holiday Student Holiday Staff Professional Learning Day Staff Professional Learning Day Elementary/Middle Parent 1.5 Days 1.5 Days Teacher (Early release on Oct. 22) (Early release on Oct. 22) Fall Conferences October 22 – 23, 2020 October 22 – 23, 2020 Winter Break 10 Days 10 Days December 21, 2020 – January 1, 2021 December 21, 2020 – January 1, 2021 Elementary/Middle Parent 1.5 Days 1.5 Days Teacher (Early release on Feb. 25) (Early release on Mar. 4) Spring Conferences February 25 – 26, 2021 March 4 – 5, 2021 ES/MS Last Day June 18, 2021 June 25, 2021 HS Last Day June 16, 2021 June 23, 2021 Teacher/10-Month June 18, 2021 (HS Graduation) June 25, 2021 Employee Last Day 21
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