Did you know that you can have a say in when we start school and what days students have off next school year?
The Virginia General Assembly recently passed legislation to allow school divisions to begin school before Labor Day. ACPS is considering this as an option for the 2020-21 school year. We are also considering moving to counting hours and not days, which would allow staff additional time for professional learning.
The ACPS Calendar Committee is dedicated to ensuring your voice is heard. The committee is looking to balance the appropriate professional learning days, parent-teacher conferences and holidays into the calendar and is seeking your input and comments.
Some of the things that are taken into consideration include:
- 183 student days and 13 professional development/teacher work days
- The Virginia General Assembly recently passed legislation to allow school divisions to begin school before Labor Day
- Full day holiday on Wednesday before Thanksgiving (not mandated, but tradition)
- Spring break scheduled the same week as Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties to align spring sports schedules
- Student holiday on election day for security and parking
- Four early release days for high school at the end of the year to accommodate testing
Three different versions of the draft traditional and modified calendars for the 2020-21 school year have been prepared for review and comment.
- Version 1: Most closely matches the 2019-20 calendar. The first day of school would be September 8, 2020 and the last day of school would be June 23, 2021. This version of the calendar includes: 8 days for Winter Break; 183 student days; 13 professional days for staff. This calendar allows for 196 teacher contract days.
- Version 2: Starts one week earlier, prior to Labor Day. The first day of school would be August 31, 2020 and the last day of school would be June 18, 2021. This version of the calendar includes 10 days for Winter Break, 182 student days, 13 professional days for staff. This calendar allows for 195 teacher contract days.
- Version 3: Starts after Labor Day, but reduces the number of student days by calculating in-school time in hours and not days. This version still exceeds the minimum requirement of 990 in-school hours. The first day of school would be September 8, 2020 and the last day of school would be June 24, 2021. This version of the calendar includes 10 days for Winter Break, two additional professional days for staff on December 11, 2019 and May 7, 2020. The hourly calculation works out to 180 student days, plus 15 professional days for staff. This calendar allows for 195 teacher contract days.
Traditional Calendar:
- Draft Traditional Calendar – Version 1 (PDF)
- Draft Traditional Calendar – Version 2 (PDF)
- Draft Traditional Calendar – Version 3 (PDF)
- Submit your feedback and comments on the Traditional Calendar
Modified Calendar for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School:
- Draft Modified Calendar – Version 1 (PDF)
- Draft Modified Calendar – Version 2 (PDF)
- Draft Modified Calendar – Version 3 (PDF)
- Submit your feedback and comments on the Modified Calendar
The online feedback forms will be available through Sunday, November 3.
Once feedback has been received, the Academic Calendar Committee will evaluate the responses to see if the sentiment supports or opposes various options.
The committee will then present recommendations to the superintendent for consideration.
The recommended calendars will be presented to the School Board in December. Once approved, the adopted calendars will be posted on the ACPS website and announced in ACPS Express, ACPS Insider and on social media.