2020-21 school year calendars - boarddocs · 2020-01-24 · microsoft powerpoint - g-1 school...

2020-21School Year Calendars

Dan Redding, Interim Assistant Superintendent,

Human Resources

January 23, 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

3

Calendar Committee met

in November

3 Calendar options were developed for consideration

Calendar options were presented to Community for

feedback on choice

Feedback was provided to the

Calendar Committee, Superintendent, and Executive Leadership

Team

A fourth option was developed

incorporating feedback

Recommendation presented to School Board for approval

and adoption

Calendar Requirements

and Considerations


5

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


6

1. VA Code § 22.1-79.1: Opening School Year2. 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

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 DatesJurisdiction Teachers Return: Students’ First Day Students’ Last DayAlexandria 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)

8

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)

The Options

Original Calendar Options

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Calendar 1 Calendar 2 Calendar 3Pre-Service Week for teachers and 10-month employees

6 Days August 19-26, 2020

7 Days August 27 – September 4, 2020


First Day of School Pre-Labor Day startAugust 27, 2020

Post-Labor Day start September 8, 2020

Pre-Labor Day startAugust 25, 2020

Columbus Day Student Holiday Staff Professional Learning Day

Student Holiday Staff Professional Learning Day


Elementary/Middle Parent TeacherFall Conferences

1.5 Days(Early release on Oct. 22)October 22 – 23, 2020

1.5 Days(Early release on Oct. 22)October 22– 23, 2020


Winter Break 10 Days December 21, 2020 – January 1, 2021

10 Days December 21, 2020 – January 1, 2021


Elementary/Middle Parent TeacherSpring Conferences

1.5 Days(Early release on Feb. 25)February 25 – 26, 2021

1.5 Days(Early release on Mar. 4)March 4 – 5, 2021


ES/MS Last DayHS Last Day Teacher/10-Month Employee Last Day

June 17, 2021June 15, 2021June 18, 2021

June 25, 2021June 23, 2021June 25, 2021

June 15, 2021June 11, 2021June 16, 2021

Feedback

Calendar Committee Makeup

12

• APS school-based administrators• Arlington Education Association Members• TCI Representative• CCPTA representatives• Transportation• Extended Day• Information Services

Survey Feedback

13

52%

29%

53%47%

23%

32%

24%25%

25%

39%

24% 28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Parents (n=9,520) Staff (n=3,902) Student (n=1,872) Community (n=1,271)

Pre-Labor Day Start

I like it

I can live with it

I do not like it

Survey Feedback

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• 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

Survey Feedback

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• 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

Survey Feedback

16

30%

50%

30%39%

23%

26%

23%18%

47%

24%

47% 43%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Parents (n=4,764) Staff (n=1,958) Student (n=940) Community (n=635)

Post-Labor Day Start

I like it

I can live with it

I do not like it

Survey Feedback

17

• 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

Survey Feedback

18

52%

29%

53%47%

30%

50%

30%39%

23%

32%

24%25%

23%

26%

23%

18%

25%

39%

24% 28%

47%

24%

47% 43%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Parents(n=9,520)

Staff(n=3,902)

Student(n=1,872)

Community(n=1,271)

Parents(n=4,764)

Staff(n=1,958)

Student(n=940)

Community(n=635)

Pre-Labor Day Post-Labor Day

I like it

I can live with it

I do not like it

Calendar Committee Considerations

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• 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

Superintendent’s Recommended Calendar

20

Calendar Options

21

Calendar 4Superintendent’s Recommendation

Calendar 2Post-Labor Day Start

Pre-Service Week for teachers and 10-month employees


7 Days August 27 – September 4, 2020

First Day of School Pre-Labor Day startAugust 31, 2020

Post-Labor Day start September 8, 2020

Columbus Day Student Holiday Staff Professional Learning Day


Elementary/Middle Parent TeacherFall Conferences


1.5 Days(Early release on Oct. 22)October 22– 23, 2020

Winter Break 10 Days December 21, 2020 – January 1, 2021


Elementary/Middle Parent TeacherSpring Conferences


1.5 Days(Early release on Mar. 4)March 4 – 5, 2021

ES/MS Last DayHS Last Day Teacher/10-Month Employee Last Day

June 18, 2021June 16, 2021 June 18, 2021 (HS Graduation)

June 25, 2021June 23, 2021June 25, 2021

Proposal Features

• 5 day preservice week• 180 student days • 191 T-scale reporting days

• 1 ”compliance day” during summer• 2 floating PD days for options related to program evaluation

• Inauguration day is NOT a holiday• Enables two week winter break • End school on Friday• Other options considered to make 180:

• Columbus Day• Veterans Day• Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving• Two week winter break

22

Calendar Comparison

Neighboring Jurisdictions Start DatesJurisdiction Teachers Return: Students’ First Day Students’ Last DayAlexandria 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)Arlington Superintendent’s Recommendation

August 24 (Mon) August 31 (Mon) June 18 (Fri)

23

2020-21School Year Calendars

Dan Redding, Interim Assistant Superintendent,

Human Resources

January 23, 2020

2020-21 school year calendars - boarddocs · 2020-01-24 · microsoft powerpoint - g-1 school...

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