1.

What do YOU think of proposed changes to SFUSD's school-year calendar for 2017-18?

SFUSD teachers, administrators, and parent representatives met recently to discuss options for next year's school-year calendar.
 
Several changes are being considered, including:
 
1) Starting school one week later in August and ending one week later in May/June;
  • Pros: 
    • Late start gives teachers more options for professional development.
    • Prior surveys suggest families, teachers and administrators prefer a later start.
  • Cons: 
    • When school starts later, fall semester is significantly shorter than spring semester
2) Closing schools for the entire week of Thanksgiving, and making those two days up at the beginning or end of the year;
  • Pros: 
    • In the current system there are not enough substitutes to cover scheduled and unscheduled absences on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week -- even with advance planning. Last year, 612 teachers were absent the day before the Thanksgiving holiday and 152 of those absences were unfilled by substitute teachers.
    • Instruction is often disrupted by the absence of the regularly assigned teacher.
    • Other surrounding districts (30 of 55 nearby districts) have transitioned to a full week off at Thanksgiving.
    • With advance planning, DCYF and other community based organizations may be able to step in to provide childcare on those days.
  • Cons:
    • Finding childcare, transportation and meals for kids on the days before Thanksgiving is a burden on families as many caregivers must work on these days.
    • Taking two additional school days off at Thanksgiving means moving those two days to the beginning or end of the school year calendar.
3) Eliminating the Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day holiday on October 9, 2017;
  • Pro:
    • The elimination of the holiday would add a day to the fall semester to better balance the number of instructional days between the fall and spring.
  • Con:
    • Without this holiday there are no days off in October. 
4) Later winter break: December 22 to January 8 instead of December 18 to January 2;
  • Pro:
    • Later winter break helps even out semesters, by providing more instructional days in the fall semester.
  • Con:
    • Not sure which winter break schedule families prefer.
We are seeking input from families to inform these decisions. 


T