2021-2022 STANDARD SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

Presentation Goals

• Review calendar requirements and considerations

• Outline process followed for developing the SY 2021-22 calendar

• Review previously provided SY 2021-22 calendar options

• Prepare to adopt the SY 2021-22 school calendar

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• Reviewed previous calendars

• Evaluated calendar survey data

• Received input from Religious Observances Task Force

• Developed two calendar options

Calendar Committee (February/March 2020)

• School Board received two calendar options

School Board Meeting (June 18, 2020)

• Community and staff feedback was gathered

Community Survey (June/July 2020)

• School Board reviews and comments on calendar options

School Board Work Session (February 2, 2021)

• School Board approves 2021-2022 school year calendar

School Board Final Adoption (TBD)

Process Overview

Calendar Requirements & Considerations

• Current holidays are outlined in FCPS Regulation 1344

• Nine existing holidays

• Recommend additional holidays be recognized this year to reflect our diverse community

• Traditional Teacher Work Schedule has 194 contract days

• Accounts for minimum instructional delivery time required in Code of Virginia plus 14 days for teacher planning time with opportunities for staff meetings and professional development

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Calendar Requirements & Considerations

• Semesters (consisting of two quarters) of approximately equal length

• Two week winter break• Consistent community and employee support per past

calendar surveys

• General and primary election days

• Number of instructional days each week and minimizing interruptions to the “flow” of instructional days

• Calendar Committee consensus

• Religious Observances Task Force recommendations

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2021-22 Calendar Committee Makeup

• Parent Teacher Associations/Organizations• Fairfax County Council PTA

• Special Education PTA

• Religious Organizations• Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater

Washington

• Virginia Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement

• Islamic Circle of North America

• Teacher, Operational Employee, and Principal Associations

• Various FCPS Department Personnel

• School Board Member

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Version A Draft Calendar

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Version B Draft Calendar

Shared Features of Draft Calendars A and B

• Provide 178 instructional days• Add two teacher work days to address early release days and

teacher workload concerns

• Add four religious holidays:• Rosh Hashanah, Tuesday, September 7

• Yom Kippur, Thursday, September 16

• Diwali, Thursday, November 4

• Eid al Fitr, Tuesday, May 3

• Start school Monday, August 23

• Retain two week winter break: December 20–January 2

• Retain one week spring break: April 11-15

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Distinct Key Features of Draft Calendars A & B

Version A

• Indigenous Peoples’ DayMonday, October 11

• Student holiday

• Teacher PD workday

• Thursday, June 16 Last student day

• Friday, June 17 Last teacher workday

Version B

• Indigenous Peoples’ DayMonday, October 11

• Student and teacher holiday

• Tuesday, October 12

• Student holiday

• Teacher PD workday

• Friday, June 17 Last student day

• Tuesday, June 21Last teacher workday

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Religious Holidays in Local School Divisions

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Note: Montgomery County has not published its calendar for 2021-22. In 2020-21, their holidays were: Yom Kippur, Lunar New Year, Eid al Fitr, Spring Break coupled with Easter

Religious Observance

Dates

Loudoun

County

Prince William

County

Arlington

County

Alexandria

City

Rosh Hashanah - Tuesday 9/7 X X

Yom Kippur - Thursday 9/16 X X X

Diwali - Thursday 11/4 X X X

Eid al Fitr - Tuesday 5/3 X X X

Spring Break coupled with Easter X X X X

First Day of School Aug 26 Aug 23 Aug 30 Aug 24

Last Day of School Jun 17 Jun 15 Jun 15 -17* Jun 10

*Last day varies by school level

2021-2022 Calendar Comparison

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Advantages

• Additional holidays reflect committee and task force input and honors community diversity

• No early release days - two additional teacher workdays to address teacher workload and parental concerns

• Maintains current approach to winter and spring breaks

Potential Concerns

• Introduces more abbreviated

weeks in the school calendar

Versions A & B Draft Calendar

Additional Draft Calendar Option Version C (New)

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Version C Draft Calendar

Draft Calendar C: Key Elements

• Includes 180 instructional days

• Starts school Monday, August 23

• Ends school Friday, June 10

• Does not include additional religious holidays contained within in draft versions A and B

• Retains two week winter break: December 20–January 2

• Establishes a fixed week for spring break for the second full week of March

• Closely mirrors current school calendar for teacher work days and planning time (retains early release days)

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Advantages

• School year ends earlier – first full week of June

Potential Concerns

• Does not honor feedback and

input regarding holidays for

religious observances

• Current structure still includes

early releases to address work,

planning, and PD time for

schools/teachers

• Extended stretch of seven

consecutive full weeks

between end of 3rd Quarter and

Memorial Day weekend

Version C Draft Calendar

Calendar Survey Summary

• A top priority from survey respondents is maintaining a two week winter break

• 70% (44,780) of respondents support school ending the 1st half of June

• 46% (28,600) of parents and staff support school starting one week before Labor Day; 21% (12,708) support school starting two weeks before Labor Day

• 54% (33,533) of parents and staff preferred full days off for teacher work days, school planning and staff development

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Board Discussion and Feedback

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www.fcps.edu

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