School starts way too early!

[RTR91]

State laws determine only the number of days/hours a school must be in session per year, most are 180 days or over 1,000 hours but a few are longer and some are shorter. In Ohio, where I am a principal, each school district, not the city or county system determines the actual start and stop date. We go an X amount of hours for the year instead of days for the year. We start school on Aug. 24 and end on May 25th. Some schools up here, mostly in the northern part of the state start later, usually after Labor Day and go into early to mid June. Flexibility is the key.

The problem that I see is that we have state legislators that know more about education than the people in education. (I do realize that is some cases that is true) Each state has a superintendent of education so IMO, they should be able to get some county and city superintendents together and come up with a plan that will work for Alabama. IMO, the local school district should be able to determine the beginning and ending of school.

The school districts do make the school calendar in Alabama.

Alabama really needs to look at going on a minimum number of hours per year. If each state did that, they would have time built in for bad weather such as floods, tornadoes, sleet, etc... When we were under the old system of days, we had to make-up any day missed after 5 days. With the hours system we do not have to make up days unless we are not going to get the minimum number of hours required by state law.

Schools already have weather days built into the calendar.

 

[Tide1986]

The school districts do make the school calendar in Alabama.



Schools already have weather days built into the calendar.

And school doesn't have to be in session the entire day for a full day's credit to be counted. I believe as long as the students are fed lunch and then are dismissed (e.g. in the event of potential inclement weather) then a full day is counted. Also, the governor can declare a state of emergency, and schools then do not have to make up any missed days. And finally, the Shelby County school calendar is essentially the same as the one noted for Ohio, except that we start 12 days earlier and likely have more off days built into the school year as a result.

 

[willie52]

School started today over in Mississippi too. Mine start here on the 17th. I think they should be in school year-round. Why should learning take such an extended summer break? Divide the year into quarters and give them a couple weeks off between each quarter instead.

Hey Doc, how are ya?

I like your theory but what happens when family's want to take a vacation during those same two weeks. You'd never get a hotel and imagine the traffic. :biggrin2:

 

[NationalTitles18]

Learning doesn't take a break during summer. Other things are learned that are just as important.

 

[TideMom2Boys]

And school doesn't have to be in session the entire day for a full day's credit to be counted. I believe as long as the students are fed lunch and then are dismissed (e.g. in the event of potential inclement weather) then a full day is counted. Also, the governor can declare a state of emergency, and schools then do not have to make up any missed days. And finally, the Shelby County school calendar is essentially the same as the one noted for Ohio, except that we start 12 days earlier and likely have more off days built into the school year as a result.

Yes, those days don't count as a full day off. They didn't have to make up any of those winter days from a couple years back, because of the state of emergency.



When the Shelby county calendar was changed a couple years back and they started after the required date. (I think August 20th). They had less days off during the year. I like the more days off during the year instead. It gives a nice little break for the kids.

 

[Tide1986]

Yes, those days don't count as a full day off. They didn't have to make up any of those winter days from a couple years back, because of the state of emergency.



When the Shelby county calendar was changed a couple years back and they started after the required date. (I think August 20th). They had less days off during the year. I like the more days off during the year instead. It gives a nice little break for the kids.

A week off for Thanksgiving is nice. Wish it had been that way when I was kid -- we only had two days off.

 

[Al A Bama]

The Independent School District where I live in Texas starts on August 24.

 

[Al A Bama]

See this link to compare states. Colorado has 160 days. That's the lowest that I saw.

http://edsource.org/wp-content/uploads/95051.pdf

 

[TIDE-HSV]

State laws determine only the number of days/hours a school must be in session per year, most are 180 days or over 1,000 hours but a few are longer and some are shorter. In Ohio, where I am a principal, each school district, not the city or county system determines the actual start and stop date. We go an X amount of hours for the year instead of days for the year. We start school on Aug. 24 and end on May 25th. Some schools up here, mostly in the northern part of the state start later, usually after Labor Day and go into early to mid June. Flexibility is the key.

The problem that I see is that we have state legislators that know more about education than the people in education. (I do realize that is some cases that is true) Each state has a superintendent of education so IMO, they should be able to get some county and city superintendents together and come up with a plan that will work for Alabama. IMO, the local school district should be able to determine the beginning and ending of school.

Alabama really needs to look at going on a minimum number of hours per year. If each state did that, they would have time built in for bad weather such as floods, tornadoes, sleet, etc... When we were under the old system of days, we had to make-up any day missed after 5 days. With the hours system we do not have to make up days unless we are not going to get the minimum number of hours required by state law.

Another thing that has been implemented in our state the past two years in called "blizzard bags." This was done because the last two winters have been terrible with heavy snow and very cold temperatures. Alabama could come up with their own name for it but it basically allows teachers to have lesson plans put online ahead of time, 3 days, and students can do the classwork off the computer. Students who do not have access to a computer are allowed time after returning to school to make the work up without penalty. If a parent decides not to have the child do the work, the student is only then counted absent after a period of time.

More later but I must get back to work. I am trying to get a schedule put together because of a new contract with the union.

Since Col. Wardinski took over several years ago, all students here are issued laptops or tablets in lieu of schoolbooks. Therefore, all of the lesson plans are always online...

 

[AlabasterBama]

School started today over in Mississippi too. Mine start here on the 17th. I think they should be in school year-round. Why should learning take such an extended summer break? Divide the year into quarters and give them a couple weeks off between each quarter instead.

I was fortunate enough to teach and coach at a school here in Alabama that was on the year-round calendar. It was wonderful but the State required that all schools delay the start of school until test results were released to the state(1st week of August). We started the week after July 4th. The schedule was 9 weeks of school 3 weeks off, 9/3, 9/3 and 9 weeks the 7 weeks of summer vacation. I loved it.


Now as an administrator I do not get a summer break. IMO year round school would increase test scores.

 

[tidegrandpa]

I was fortunate enough to teach and coach at a school here in Alabama that was on the year-round calendar. It was wonderful but the State required that all schools delay the start of school until test results were released to the state(1st week of August). We started the week after July 4th. The schedule was 9 weeks of school 3 weeks off, 9/3, 9/3 and 9 weeks the 7 weeks of summer vacation. I loved it.


Now as an administrator I do not get a summer break. IMO year round school would increase test scores.

Would the kids graduate after 9 yrs instead of 12 ?

 

[AlabasterBama]

Would the kids graduate after 9 yrs instead of 12 ?

It is still the same 36 weeks of instruction. 4 nine weeks just like the traditional calendar.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I would think it would save government dollars to start later, so that you are not running the AC full blast for a TV least a month.

 

[Elefantman]

I would think it would save government dollars to start later, so that you are not running the AC full blast for a TV least a month.

Back in my grade school days, there was no AC in the school. We started after Labor day and it was still hot as blazes.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Back in my grade school days, there was no AC in the school. We started after Labor day and it was still hot as blazes.

I think in days past, we were acclimated more to the temps...

 

[Elefantman]

I'm remember it was practically impossible to stay awake after lunch in that heat.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I'm remember it was practically impossible to stay awake after lunch in that heat.

Well, none of us were getting enough sleep, what with reading under the covers and all...

 

[GrayTide]

I think in days past, we were acclimated more to the temps...

Yeah very few had A/C at home growing up back in those days. Now kids have A/C at home, in their cars, in the classroom and at the malls.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Yeah very few had A/C at home growing up back in those days. Now kids have A/C at home in their cars, in the classroom and at the malls.

True...

 

[Elefantman]

Lets face it. The population of the southeast united states would be 1/4 of what it is today if it wasn't for Freon.