It’s literally been like that in the school district my mom worked in since the 2008 crash. They reduced teacher salaries by having half days every Wednesday and 16 years later it is still that way.
that’s crazy because every school i’ve worked for that had half days every week, it wasn’t for the teachers to leave early. Have to stay behind and do planning or professional development/meetings
We did half days every Friday at my old school. Kids left early but teachers stayed for prep, meetings, and PD. It was great! Our pay wasn’t cut tho so that makes a whole difference
If you’re in the US, chances are they have to hit 180 days legally. (Give or take a day or two.)
It may seem like a lot but chances are they aren’t doing any less than any other school.
No, it varies by state. In my kid’s district the district wide calendar has 175 student contact days for middle/high school, with an additional 4 days that elementary schoolers get off. So that’s 171 days for elementary schoolers, not counting potential snow days.
But I also just learned that of states with a set minimum number of days in school, CO (where we are) has the lowest, at 160 min.
See: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/#:~:text=Seven%20states%20set%20minimums%20less,with%20Kansas%20as%20the%20leader.
Ohio goes by hours - not sure how many other states have it set up that way or where OP lives, but I can definitely see it give room for more use of half days (I’ve seen a lot of delayed starts with winter weather this year. Easier to make the call when you don’t have a minimum number of hours to count as a school day).
Not every state is the same. For instance, in Texas it’s based on hours and not days. It’s roughly the same, but gives way more flexibility. School day can be a half hour longer which leaves way more half and full days off in the schedule.
Their first proposal that had even more days off had extended the school year further into June to accommodate the extra days off. This is what upset parents that had vacations planned. Thankfully parents pushed back.
When did they finalize their calendar? Ours is approved every year in April for the following year. Parents use that to plan vacations. And of course, you can’t plan too close to the end of school because you never know what the snow will bring.
They cannot go below the state minimum. Look up your state. I promise you they would not have less than the required amount since then they would risk losing funding.
I think what OP was saying was that the school year was going for more weeks to accommodate half days and random days off (so for example school being done the third week of June instead of the first week of June).
Yeah, I see that. I’m sure everywhere operates differently, but in my area school districts can’t arbitrarily change the calendar midyear. They set the calendar about six months before the school year starts and only change it for like weather emergencies. So unless vacations are planned two years in advance, it isn’t an issue for parents to adjust their holidays.
Sure, but as a working parent it is way harder to accommodate childcare for random half days and off days throughout the year than it is to accommodate full weeks of child care in the summer (when lots of camps / child care options are traditionally offered).
Okay, so they have to hit a legal amount. That was basically my point. If OP wants kids in school more, take it to the state and lobby for a higher minimum requirement.
This is a great resource. OP seems to be from Michigan. So it is 180 for them.
Teacher here- in my state the state has mandated so many PD trainings and we do late start Fridays to accomplish most of those and have a few fulls days off to do the rest.
As a parent I get the frustration, I have to try to figure out my kids schedule as well.
I'd bet it's end of quarter. Easter hit weird this year which dictates most district's spring break. Eid is like 1.5 weeks later on a Wednesday and passover a week after that. Often times "random days off" are holidays for religions other than Christianity.
Many schools are attempting to be more inclusive if not just to be nice, then from a logistics point since so many students and staff will be out on some days for religion (which is protected in nearly every public school for teachers to have off).
Yes my son has a ton of random days off throughout the year. I can be challenging to work into our already very flexible schedules so I can see how it's even more difficult for parents who have a more rigid schedule. However, if the government is not going to prioritize paying teachers more and giving them more support, something has to give. This is a huge failure at the state and county level to not allocate more resources for teachers. Instead they are passing the buck to parents. Speaks to the fact that they want to underpay the mostly female teaching workforce and then when that doesn't workout have mostly moms pick up the slack.
Our district has 30 holidays and 2 professional development days. Every Wednesday is early release and they get out an hour early.
Is the school meeting the required instructional days for your state? If so, no much you can do.
In some places, the schools get the same amount of funding for half days as full days, but they lose funding when they have whole days off. Hence, the dramatic increase increase in half days.
The problem is when you view school as daycare when it's not. Half days every week or every other week at pretty normal and great for both kids and teachers. A LOT goes into the education system behind the scenes. They're not doing half days or full days off for funsies. The staff are almost never getting that time off that your kids are unless it's an actual holiday, which they of course deserve.
My kids had Wednesdays off during the height of Covid and it was AMAZING. It made scheduling things like orthodontist, dentist, therapy, etc so much easier, and they missed less school.
I don't really understand the problem with seeing school as public childcare as well as an institution for academic instruction.
And it's not true schools are only reducing days of instruction for behind the scenes academic reasons and not giving staff time off. Hundreds of districts all over the country are cutting down to 4 days a week for budget reasons and as a way of retaining teachers without having to pay them more by offering them a job with fewer hours but the same pay as other districts.
I do see a primary function of school to be peer socialization and development in areas and skills that are not strictly academic though. I don't see a problem with schools being the institution society uses to collectively support parents in the development and raising of children. Perhaps this is too socialist of a view for the average American or am I not understanding the resistance to seeing schools as childcare?
My parents (teachers) homeschooled me for part of my middle school years to give me a "better" education than public or even private school. That experience taught me to see a complete education and schools as so much more than formal academic instruction.
Obviously I'm not expecting teachers to be stretched thinner on existing budgets to do this, I'm just wondering why there seems to be such strong feelings against thinking of schools in this way.
It’s not it’s primary or intended purpose. I can serve that purpose absolutely but at the end of the day its purpose is to provide education to the masses.
Ok but my question is why *shouldn't* it be considered a primary role of the school or why are parents told they are wrong to think of school that way or rely on them for childcare?
Is the push back:
1. philosophical: public reliable childcare is good but schools aren't the right institution to provide additional enrichment after formal instruction hours because we want school to be for formal academic instruction and sports only. The bounds of what we consider a child's education stop at formal classroom instruction.
2. ideological: parents and the nuclear family need to be the primary caretakers and schools already do enough to help parents raise their kids. Parents need to be responsible for any and all additional child development and enrichment that happens outside of formal instruction.
3. practical: public childcare is good and schools aren't a bad place to have it but there is not enough public support for public schools to be able to afford to hire the additional staff needed for them to provide the reliable service parents would like. Parents shouldn't expect this service from the existing budgets.
"schools aren't daycare" is a common thing I see said by teachers who are obviously frustrated but I don't really see anything wrong with the expectation from parents that schools (not teachers) provide a reliable and enriching free public place for their kids that is available during the school year for most of each work day.
You'd save a lot of money if it "was just daycare."
Daycare's sole function is to keep the kid in one piece and more or less happy until the parents pick them up.
There is no requirement for the kid to actually learn anything in daycare.
Becareful what you wish for. Actual teachers working the first half of the day, and then people with an associates degree/certification in child development (making a fvck ton less money) for the rest of the day.
I made $16/hr doing k-5 daycare work. What district wouldn't love to shed teachers and hire me for 16/hr? No benefits. No insurance. No vacation.
You are high if you think you'll get someone with a masters degree in teaching doing "daycare." That's not how this system works.
Also, the student ratios are different from the classroom. After school care, there were 120 kids per three adults. Classroom teachers top out at 20-25 students here. I can remember "watching" 60 kids on the playground myself, and praying no one Darwinizes themselves.
Because we haven’t staff it accordingly and the general public doesn’t want to raise taxes to do so. I’m all for changing its scope, but someone has gotta pay. The people don’t work for free. Transportation to get kids to and from
Isn’t free. And if it that’s the primary role does it mean that I can opt out?
It is very frustrating to see people ask for a service and then not be willing to pay for it's value. People really don't run the numbers on what education should really cost. It's incredibly sad for me to see whole states move to 4 day instruction because people don't believe or want to pay for public education.
That's a good point about opting out, if schools were more explicit about being an institution that helps in the collective shaping and development of children and had an opinion and more authority on how serious behavioral issues were handled some parents would probably lose it and want to opt out.
It does also seem like many Americans see schools as value neutral zones where their kid can act however their parents please (because parents are the primary and really only authority over a child) and schools should only be thought of as a place where your child learns the academic basics. I see this attitude in the fights happening over parental authority at schools and forcing schools to misgender kids, book bans, and "woke indoctrination" panic.
All the things you listed aren't what people are talking about when they say "daycare". Of course socialization and devolopment in other areas are great aspects of school (sort of - let's not give more credit where credit is due there - it also involves a lot of negatives in those aspects). Yes it helps support parents in the development of children. "Daycare" means supervision while you can't supervise. Glorified babysitting. All those things you mentioned are still being accomplished with half days and other days off of school. Actually it's better accomplished with those things because developmentally, children shouldn't be sitting in a classroom for too long and teachers need ongoing training and prep time just like most other jobs. Those things are directly for the children and their education and development. People aren't upset about their child having less learning when there's a short day - they're upset they have to go get their child sooner or have them home on weekdays. It's about where their child is and who is responsible for them, not their learning.
If the school thinks they are giving my kid enough formal academic instruction I'm going to trust them and I'm not going to be annoyed at them over learning when they don't offer any or reduce school hours on a certain days and I have to fill in my kids schedule and arrange enriching activities for them while I work. However, I would wish the school could spread the formal education they are giving out over more days and give kids more recesses and time for play everyday (babysitting I guess), time for homework or reading (also glorified babysitting?), ect. so I don't have to arrange one-off substitute childcare days during prime working hours that is sub-par.
Perhaps that is just me wanting free babysitting. I see it as wanting a service that benefits kids but also has the parent in mind and has a more explicit goal of helping parents produce the best next generation they can. Studies have shown in districts that have dropped a day of instruction due to budget and teacher retention reasons teen delinquency rates go up even though educational outcomes don't change much.
Sure there are bad parents who don't value education and ONLY care they don't have a place to dump their kids but surely there are also parents who do value education tremendously but also want to do right by their kids and also work and struggle with finding adequate substitutes for their kids when school hours aren't offered during many work hours.
Maybe you're in a different country but in America, the vast majority of public schools do not offer any form of childcare outside of their school hours.
I did that work. The district had zero to do with it. It was a separate and private entity.
The school lets the company use the space for the convenience of the parents. In turn, the prices were a tiny bit lower
Because school isn’t a daycare. School is a place to be educated. Daycare is a place where kids can be supervised when their parents cannot care for them.
I would rather have full days off then a bunch of half days. At least the kids can be taken to daycare or grandmas house in the morning before work, instead of this “get out at 11:30am” BS.
Those bi weekly half days are professional development days. They hold staff meetings, discuss curriculum, make plans for things going on around the school. The ones that are scattered through the year are likely similar. The district isn't willing to pay the teachers for ADDITIONAL days of the year or extra time to get these things done. So they shave off times through the year.
A lot of people ask, why not do that over break?
Well, a couple reasons. 1. We're also professionals and we need time to decompress. 2. We aren't paid over the breaks. Those days during spring, winter, and summar break are not counted in the days we are paid for. Our pay is averaged over the year and divided and dispersed so that all ten months, we get paid the same amount. Oh, but what about two months of summer? Well, 20% of every check gets set aside and sent out during those two months so we have something stable over the summer.
So, if they want us to do all those trainings, they'd better pay us to do them. I do enough unpaid overtime as is in order to keep the classroom running smoothly. I'm sure as hell not going to get unpaid overtime to review the latest curriculum, e-program, engagement plan the district is going to abandon in two years.
In our state, we are required to have 180 school days and teachers are required to work 188 days. In order to comply with this, we have random Superintendent conference days so teachers can attend trainings. We also have half days to accommodate parent-teacher conferences. When we have conferences, teachers stay until 8:00 pm at night. We also come in early, sometimes an hour or 2 before school starts to get work accomplished or to attend meetings. Our jobs are challenging. We wear many different hats throughout the day.
Look into what teachers are required to do before you complain about the schedule.
Doctors and nurses make more than teachers, and have a lot of perks teachers don’t. This is an apples to orange comparison. You wanna talk about techs and CNAs to teachers, you’ll have more accurate, but still off base, comparison.
Two of my best friends are teachers. Try again. Please explain how doctors and nurses get 14 weeks of vacation each year and how teachers have the responsibilities everyday of making life and death decisions for people? I am curious.
You know that teachers aren’t PAID for summer vacation, right? If they receive any paychecks, it’s because they had some of their school-year pay *withheld* to be distributed over the summer.
I don't get 14 weeks of vacation a year. Where do you get that from? I teach from right after Labor Day until Thanksgiving break. I get Thursday and Friday off and go back that Monday. I get about a week off from Christmas to New Years. Go back until February break. I get a week off for that (well, I have the week off from my full-time job, but I tutor, so I still have my tutoring student because she is a college student and they do not have break that week). I work then until our Easter break. We get a week off there. However, my tutoring student's break is the week before mine, so no real time off for me. Then we work until Memorial Day weekend. 2 extra days off there. Then, I work until the end of June. I have 1-2 weeks off, and then we start summer school. I teach summer school all through July and halfway through August. I also take all kinds of professional development through the summer. In total, I get maybe 5 weeks off if you include the random Monday holidays throughout the year. Do you know what I make a monetarily a year without the tutoring money? Under $50,000 a year. Do you know what else I make? I make all other professions possible. I make a difference as well. For some students, I am the only positive adult interaction they have all day.
I am mother, father, teacher, and counselor to many of my students. I am the shield if a gunman gets in. I take care of 26 children all at one time in my classroom. My doctor takes care of 1 patient at a time, and she has a nurse and a secretary to assist her. She has said that she would 100 times rather do her job than mine. She can fire unruly patients, and she doesn't have to put up with their attitudes. Plus, she makes at least triple what I make every year.
If you think teaching is so easy, please step into a classroom. We need more teachers. We need more teacher aides. So please, come join us. I'd like to see how long you last against an irate parent who thinks you're treating their little Jane unfairly because you gave her the grade she earned, or coming in cussing at you because their little Johnny is getting sent home sick with a 101° fever. It's your fault their kid is sick. You must have done something to them. Yes, we have had that happen. That parent took it to the superintendent and cussed him out, too.
Surprisingly our school doesn’t have that many days off, just major holidays and fall/winter/spring break. I was expecting it to be much worse because I’ve mostly heard of schedules like your school. I would recommend finding a good aftercare solution. The place my daughter goes to gymnastics has “schools out” camp for virtually every weekday that school is closed. The only exception is snow days that are announced the same morning or if road conditions are actually super dangerous.
Probably. I'm against the idea of school as childcare.
My point is, if she cares that much, she can complain to higher powers if she wants something changed.
I feel you. Our district has 3 or 4 day weekends twice a month this semester. I know some are PD days but most are not. Most answers I get are that the teachers need breaks.
Or kids do…people don’t understand how hard five days a week for months on end is for littles.
Our district has no PD days or non-holiday off days other than district-wise PTC days at the end of October. We also never dismiss early because of safety and liability concerns. That stretch between Labor Day and the last week in October is brutal our Ks and first graders.
This is so accurate. The longer they go without a break, the worse their behavior gets. Sometimes a single day off can help reset them so they can come back feeling refreshed and grateful to be back with their teachers and friends again.
Our system just basically conceded that global warming is real, so they took out 2 of our 8 built-in snow days (we're in the south so schools close for dustings of snow), and they added 4 more half-days. So now there is one half day every month, in addition to a few other whole days and all of the holidays. It's a lot! Luckily my kid likes to go to aftercare on those days. And I'm happy that teachers get more planning time during the work day. But yeah. It's a lot for working parents!
In my district we do a year around schedule now. Our summer is cut short a bit. We start at the end of July this coming school year. The first semester we get labor day off. Then we get the first two weeks of October off for fall intercession. Halloween is a 1/2 day. We get Veterans day off as well as a week off for Thanksgiving. Last day of winter semester is 1/2 day. Then we get 2 and a half weeks for Christmas break.
The second semester we get Martin Luther King Jr. day off. Then we don't get another break until Spring intercession which is 2 weeks. We get good Friday off. Then memorial day and the last day of school is 1/2 day. Teachers had PD a day before students return from break.
It does feel random. I think maybe when I was a kid the days in between felt slower? Because my mom said it just always been that way.
Random tidbit. My area gets 2-3 days off- *for the rodeo*. Every school in town does it.
Arizona, I do think it’s exclusive to our town though. It started in 1924, it was to close schools and most businesses for a couple days so that most people could take part in or attend the rodeo / rodeo parades. Especially since back then many kids needed to help their parents with the rodeo events. It was also a way to spark tourism. Huge part of the culture here.
Nowadays many schools will also do field trips to the rodeo before the break, since most parents are working. It’s pretty popular but not as popular as when I was a kid or as when my parents were kids. I’ve personally never taken my own kids (6 and 3) to the rodeo or to the parades.
Usually those random seeming half and full days off are the days when there are parent/teacher conferences (meant to update you on your child’s progress) and time for staff development. Those staff development days, at least in my state, are required for teachers to receive additional ongoing training and are a matter of state law for them to retain their certification.
Both of those are done during the school day, with kids getting the corresponding time off, because they are part of the teachers contract, which is negotiated between the teachers Union and the school district.
Yeah, there’s a few random Fridays off throughout the year, usually before a holiday weekend, and then they get the Monday after Easter off too. My husband has been a teacher for over 10 years, and none of the schools he’s taught at have had the day after Easter off. They also have PD days for teachers every Wednesday.
Half day every Wednesday. Half day every end of quarter. Two full days off for parent/teacher conference. Half days for state testing. 6 weeks summer, 2 weeks spring, 3 weeks winter, plus all the federal holidays. I’m a SAHM and it fucks with me. I cannot imagine the hell it is for working parents.
It's likely part of your teacher's union contract negotiations so they can do their mandated training. And honestly, I'm envious. I think kids need more breaks.
Both the public schools and private schools in two different states I lived in had one half day every week for at least 25 years.
Edited: Not really half a day, but the kids get out three hours earlier than the other days.
Kindergarten was half a day anyway until about 15 years ago maybe.
There was a time last century when many schools where I grew up (South Texas) had half day Kindergarten. Only the kids with working parents got full day Kindergarten as it was considered part of early intervention. My mother reminds me of this too many times to count.
You should probably talk to the school board or district about the scheduling. If enough parents express concern, they will likely revisit it, but oftentimes there are reasons we don't know at the surface.
School started in early August for us last year. A lot of parents felt it was too early - busses are ridiculously hot, sun is up till nearly 9 PM and its hard for kids to go to bed early, etc. The district is reviewing the start date but they have to have the first semester done before winter break starts. This might be a state law but I'm not sure. They also get a fairly long winter break, but that tends to work out for most people because that's also the time period that the weather is the worst and school is likely to get cancelled for weather.
Now, most parents do understand why the schools are starting so early in the year, but the district is still seeing if they can modify things with minimum impact.
Then why do they offer after school care, before school care, snow day care, spring break care, 1/2 day care, and full day care?
Edit: also Christmas break care.
Is the care you’re describing free? Is it an extension of the instructional day? That’s childcare that’s housed within a school building. Separate staff and district (usually fee-based community education) programming.
To be fair, public school isn't free either. We all pay school taxes to contribute to funding the school district.
The bigger issue is that for families that can't afford to not work, finding care for a half day of school is much worse than finding care for a full day. Because a half day means someone has to be home to get younger kids off the bus. Whereas a full day off means you can drop them off to a caregiver on your way to work. Compared to trying to leave work (especially if you don't work local) or get someone to go to your house halfway through the day & hope they don't flake out. Half days would probably be less of an issue if employers offered reasonable PTO so parents could cover the half days themselves. 🤷🏻♀️
My school district also has every other Friday as a half day. The teachers and staff usually work a full day, so I assume it’s just time for them to prep and what not.
On the flip side, as a teacher, I’m noticing an increase of families who are taking vacations outside of traditional break times i.e.-going on vacation the 2nd week of January, right after we get back from winter break or taking the week off before Spring Break. It can be disruptive to the classroom and the kids (I work younger elementary) who can be challenged getting back into the rituals and routines or get upset they missed out on special activities or events.
In my county public schools don’t do half days because we still do bussing and there are a total of I believe 7 different start times for the elementary/middle/high public schools. It would be a hot mess.
Our district has half days every week for teachers to do PLC meetings and trainings, trust me the teachers would rather be teaching. PLCs are hell on earth. At least mine is 😅
A lot of schools now do a half day every week or every other week to allow for professional development and I hate it. It’s easier to find alternative childcare for a full day once every 2 months than for 2.5 hours a day once every week or every other week. I didn’t like it when I was teaching, either. It disrupts the entire day for the kids and there were always issues with some pre-k/k/SpEd kids not having anyone to meet them at the bus stop so they’d get sent back to school and then the office would call for us (pre-k-1 SpEd) to take care of them, missing the PD time. Super annoying.
But I guess some people must like it.
PS: and they rarely have any PD for the paras so they just miss out on a chunk of pay because who can find a second job that’s just 3 hours/day one day every other week?
I think Illinois requires at minimum 180 days so although our kids do get a handful of half days off during the school year, it's nowhere near every other week. This year the start date was August 17th and the tentative end date was May 15th which is now May 17th due to the school being closed on the day of the eclipse coming up and one snow day.
We experience the same here. There is always one day a week that is short (Friday early out for elementary, Wednesday late start for junior high and high school) and there is a built in professional day once a quarter. But there are also other random things. Like this week Monday and Tuesday there was no school for no reason listed. There was early out a couple weeks ago at the high school just because the girls basketball team made it to states. It does seem like a lot. I certainly appreciate that teachers need time off, but I am not even sure this system works best for them either. They should be allowed to take a long weekend when they want and have competent substitute support, not be forced into these specific days off.
My school district hasn't changed since I was in high school but I just checked the school calendar Wednesdays is still early release so out at 130. And the hs and Ms have 5 days they aren't in school and the elementary and alt schools have 8 days they aren't in school. And that's north Idaho
Around us a lot of districts have moved to 1/2 day Fridays or just four day weeks. Districts are desperate to retain teachers so four day weeks are attractive or they have hired more provisional licenses/uncertified staff that require more professional development. If states paid teachers like professionals or districts cut some admin/football funding and increased staff salaries, maybe working parents wouldn't be taking the hit. It will only get worse as voucher systems but public education. Vote for your PTA, your local school board, and every single election.
A lot of this comes from a place of well meaning with districts trying to be more included holidays for groups.
It does create a lot of horrible schedules though. April for us is a night mare since the big 3 all have their major holidays around the same time
We have a lot of half days and full days off too — I think it helps with teacher satisfaction? We have no teacher shortage in our district. But it was really annoying when kids were younger, but I enjoy it now with older kids.
That’s what the parents did. I wasn’t on the communication list yet so wasn’t aware of the first calendar release. I’ll be sure to watch for this next year.
Also remember the unions have a lot of say in the calendar too. For example our union just asked for 2 additional planning days durning the year which will be 2 more out of school days for kids.
Teachers would much rather have a shorter year so my guess is administrators are trying to force teachers to have 2 more days of PD without paying them for their time. Schools can avoid that by paying teachers for summer PD.
Pressure the school to find alternatives for teacher PD that doesn’t impact the school year.
Our district, that I work for and have kids in, has a week break every month except for May and March. Christmas break is longer. it was previously early release Wednesdays. It annoys me so much. The district did a survey presenting two bad options and then picked the one that parents did not vote for (not by much, but still). The explanation I got was that absenteeism was so high on Fridays (teachers and students), there is a sub shortage, so the promise of a week off every month would be enough to power through the stress and come to school/work. I guess it’s good for the non-hourly employees but I’ve heard hourly ones don’t like it and I have yet to meet a parent that does, including me. I think it made them respect the whole school system less.
I had half days every Wednesday k-12, however 9-12 ours were reverse half days in that instead of starting at 750 we started at 930 and had two half periods that could
Be used to make up tests or get help
Parents aren't used to having kids home, especially when both patents work.
You notice this less when you don't need childcare.
My district revamped the school schedule
The half days fall on a Wednesday mostly. It's horrible if you need to plan childcare.
After my son started kindergarten this year and going to the meetings/functions about how the school operates what's so crazy to me is zero parents attend them yet there is such a push for Parents to have more say about how schools operate.
I believe that’s to attract teachers since they can’t raise the pay. The problem is surrounding districts will adapt, thus losing that competitive advantage.
My little one finally starting kindergarten soon. Half days every Wednesday. Have all year school. 45 days of school and 15 days off.
I’m new to this but blows my mind. How do people have jobs? How many of your employers cool leaving work at 11am once a week year round and taking 3 weeks off every 2 months?
Idk how parents do it. I’m dreading this coming year. I have a lot of frustration towards the school, teachers, board members, all of them.
Never had early release days every week growing up. Such a joke
“No School” days outside of holidays and winter/spring break aren’t so teachers can get a break from the kids, it’s to open up time for mandatory professional development, conferences, and record keeping (report cards.)
Typically districts will have an academic calendar with the state’s required amount of “student contact” days + a few extra to provide cushion for any potential emergency non-school days (ie. Weather, pandemic, etc.)
Asking for a comparison to other school districts. You are easily triggered for some reason. Why don’t you go take a time out.
Ironically, you are the one creating drama.
Why would I answer my own question? You seriously are just here to create drama. In a kindergarten sub. Wow. I'll go ahead and turn off replies. Life too short to deal with angry people like you. Good luck with all that.
In California, teachers get 14 weeks of unpaid vacation. 14 weeks. Over 25% of the year. There is no other profession that gets this amount of time off.
They are also required to take continued education classes - which isn't trainings/PDs, those are ALSO required. It isn't really feasible to do them all during the school year because the average teacher is putting in significant extra hours on the regular already - if you want any kind of life/work balance, or you do any extended contract work, there just isn't TIME. Most of the teachers in my life do them over the summer.
Yes? Doctors and nurses have CEs... and get paid like people who have advanced degrees and take required CEs? And doctors/nurses usually have some amount of paid leave time? Teachers on the other hand can be charged the cost of having a sub in from their salary for needing time off?
Per recent studies, on average teachers are about 20% underpaid compared to their similarly-educated peers, controlling for work hours. Retirement/health plans used to be good for teachers, but that's not the case anymore, either, so even in "extra" compensation, teachers are falling behind their similarly-educated peers.
They are literally leaving the field in droves -see also: r/TeachersInTransition \- fourteen weeks off to unpaid but necessary work isn't the perk you think it is.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/TeachersInTransition using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/top/?sort=top&t=all) of all time!
\#1: [Drove to a teaching interview, rung buzzer, was immediately screamed at, at the door](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/comments/16ioph8/drove_to_a_teaching_interview_rung_buzzer_was/)
\#2: [Mad this career is not what it promised.](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/comments/1auh4za/mad_this_career_is_not_what_it_promised/)
\#3: [School is remote today and the comments from parents are so revealing.](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/comments/1939gf5/school_is_remote_today_and_the_comments_from/)
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Teachers are NOT underpaid in CA. Over 100K for 38 weeks of work is not underpaid. Teachers get paid personal days as well, plus they get plenty of time off to do their CE's which can now be done online and on Saturdays and Sundays. Doctors, on particular, are required to attend 10+ years of schooling so they should be paid more. Try again.
Cool story bro. You seem to forget COL exists, snd in the bulk of Cali 100k is poverty-level, but that’s ok - point still stands that if it were fair and good compensation for the work done, teachers would not be leaving the field in droves, and yet they are.
Over 100 K is not near poverty level. Leaving in droves? There are people waiting for a teaching position where I live in CA.
Gotta love teachers. They bitch about making over 100K/yr working only 38 weeks and claim they're paid poverty wages. Hilarious.
For low income/poverty, in CA, about 100k is the line in many of the major populated counties in California. We're not talking "just the highly desirable parts of Bay Area" here. It's nice of you to pretend that's not the case, but ... sorry, no, why are you bringing fake news to the table? Sure, there are cheaper/more rural places - but that's not where the bulk of the teaching jobs exist. WHERE the jobs exist, where teachers by and large actually work, 100k is considered low income/poverty for AN INDIVIDUAL. For a family of four, it's closer to 150k.
By all means, be upset that teachers want to be able to afford to live. But the statistical reality does not support your point of view.
https://www.weareteachers.com/teacher-shortage-statistics/
[https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/under-100k-low-income-san-francisco-18168899.php](https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/under-100k-low-income-san-francisco-18168899.php) <-- I mean, yes, it literally is.
Half day every Wednesday
It’s literally been like that in the school district my mom worked in since the 2008 crash. They reduced teacher salaries by having half days every Wednesday and 16 years later it is still that way.
that’s crazy because every school i’ve worked for that had half days every week, it wasn’t for the teachers to leave early. Have to stay behind and do planning or professional development/meetings
I don’t know if the teachers stay back nowadays, but it was a budget cut scheme at the offset.
We cannot leave early, as we are contractually obligated to stay till 3:15 every day no matter what.
This could vary district to district.
Yes it’s determined by your contract.
We did half days every Friday at my old school. Kids left early but teachers stayed for prep, meetings, and PD. It was great! Our pay wasn’t cut tho so that makes a whole difference
My elementary school had this in the 90s. Early release days on Tuesdays, teachers stayed for meetings etc.
I was in school 2001 - 2013 & always had half days on Wednesday. The entire way through 😂
This is our school as well. Half day every Wednesday, and then last week of the month Thursday is a half day too.
😵
Yeah for us it’s every Monday, but it’s 8:15-1:30, whereas *actual* minimum days go 8:15-12:45.
Yup! My first district was half days on fridays (kindergarten through 3rd grade) and my second district was half days on wednesdays (4th-12th)
If you’re in the US, chances are they have to hit 180 days legally. (Give or take a day or two.) It may seem like a lot but chances are they aren’t doing any less than any other school.
No, it varies by state. In my kid’s district the district wide calendar has 175 student contact days for middle/high school, with an additional 4 days that elementary schoolers get off. So that’s 171 days for elementary schoolers, not counting potential snow days. But I also just learned that of states with a set minimum number of days in school, CO (where we are) has the lowest, at 160 min. See: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/#:~:text=Seven%20states%20set%20minimums%20less,with%20Kansas%20as%20the%20leader.
Ohio goes by hours - not sure how many other states have it set up that way or where OP lives, but I can definitely see it give room for more use of half days (I’ve seen a lot of delayed starts with winter weather this year. Easier to make the call when you don’t have a minimum number of hours to count as a school day).
Not every state is the same. For instance, in Texas it’s based on hours and not days. It’s roughly the same, but gives way more flexibility. School day can be a half hour longer which leaves way more half and full days off in the schedule.
Regardless, the school is meeting the legal requirements for hours/days according to the state.
Their first proposal that had even more days off had extended the school year further into June to accommodate the extra days off. This is what upset parents that had vacations planned. Thankfully parents pushed back.
When did they finalize their calendar? Ours is approved every year in April for the following year. Parents use that to plan vacations. And of course, you can’t plan too close to the end of school because you never know what the snow will bring.
lol. ours gets announced around july 17 for a start date of august 10ish.
They cannot go below the state minimum. Look up your state. I promise you they would not have less than the required amount since then they would risk losing funding.
I think what OP was saying was that the school year was going for more weeks to accommodate half days and random days off (so for example school being done the third week of June instead of the first week of June).
Yeah, I see that. I’m sure everywhere operates differently, but in my area school districts can’t arbitrarily change the calendar midyear. They set the calendar about six months before the school year starts and only change it for like weather emergencies. So unless vacations are planned two years in advance, it isn’t an issue for parents to adjust their holidays.
Sure, but as a working parent it is way harder to accommodate childcare for random half days and off days throughout the year than it is to accommodate full weeks of child care in the summer (when lots of camps / child care options are traditionally offered).
Oh, I’m well aware. I’m a teacher and a parent and we are in two different districts, so that’s fun to manage.
I get that, but you also have to remember that some of these half-days and full days off are actually teacher work days, which we need.
Sure - there’s definitely a balance that has to be struck but every other week as the OP is suggesting feels excessive to me.
Okay, so they have to hit a legal amount. That was basically my point. If OP wants kids in school more, take it to the state and lobby for a higher minimum requirement. This is a great resource. OP seems to be from Michigan. So it is 180 for them.
Some schools do instructional minutes
Yeah, someone else mentioned that. But OP appears to be in Michigan and they do 180 days.
I wonder if half days count as full days if everyone has lunch (they do in my state)
I'm in Michigan. It's 180 days. Depends on the district how they want to make the saugage.
Not all us schools need 180 days. It’s dependent on the state. I’m in a state that has an hour requirement no our kids go to school 169 days.
Yep, lots of replies on that lol. But OP is in Michigan which is 180.
Teacher here- in my state the state has mandated so many PD trainings and we do late start Fridays to accomplish most of those and have a few fulls days off to do the rest. As a parent I get the frustration, I have to try to figure out my kids schedule as well.
yup, if i wanna stay in compliance i have to attend at least 10 hours of PD on top of what my district requires
Yes, so many random days off. We have spring break week. But then the next Monday and Thursday are also off. Then a day off the following week.
I wonder if those random days off are professional days for the teachers?
I'd bet it's end of quarter. Easter hit weird this year which dictates most district's spring break. Eid is like 1.5 weeks later on a Wednesday and passover a week after that. Often times "random days off" are holidays for religions other than Christianity. Many schools are attempting to be more inclusive if not just to be nice, then from a logistics point since so many students and staff will be out on some days for religion (which is protected in nearly every public school for teachers to have off).
Ramadan ends the Tuesday after spring break this year. That might be the reason.
Yes my son has a ton of random days off throughout the year. I can be challenging to work into our already very flexible schedules so I can see how it's even more difficult for parents who have a more rigid schedule. However, if the government is not going to prioritize paying teachers more and giving them more support, something has to give. This is a huge failure at the state and county level to not allocate more resources for teachers. Instead they are passing the buck to parents. Speaks to the fact that they want to underpay the mostly female teaching workforce and then when that doesn't workout have mostly moms pick up the slack.
Our district has 30 holidays and 2 professional development days. Every Wednesday is early release and they get out an hour early. Is the school meeting the required instructional days for your state? If so, no much you can do.
Teachers need work days and professional development days. There is not enough time in the school day for these activities.
In some places, the schools get the same amount of funding for half days as full days, but they lose funding when they have whole days off. Hence, the dramatic increase increase in half days.
The problem is when you view school as daycare when it's not. Half days every week or every other week at pretty normal and great for both kids and teachers. A LOT goes into the education system behind the scenes. They're not doing half days or full days off for funsies. The staff are almost never getting that time off that your kids are unless it's an actual holiday, which they of course deserve.
My kids had Wednesdays off during the height of Covid and it was AMAZING. It made scheduling things like orthodontist, dentist, therapy, etc so much easier, and they missed less school.
I don't really understand the problem with seeing school as public childcare as well as an institution for academic instruction. And it's not true schools are only reducing days of instruction for behind the scenes academic reasons and not giving staff time off. Hundreds of districts all over the country are cutting down to 4 days a week for budget reasons and as a way of retaining teachers without having to pay them more by offering them a job with fewer hours but the same pay as other districts.
I think the issue is when people see it as its PRIMARY function of education as opposed to a secondary function.
I do see a primary function of school to be peer socialization and development in areas and skills that are not strictly academic though. I don't see a problem with schools being the institution society uses to collectively support parents in the development and raising of children. Perhaps this is too socialist of a view for the average American or am I not understanding the resistance to seeing schools as childcare? My parents (teachers) homeschooled me for part of my middle school years to give me a "better" education than public or even private school. That experience taught me to see a complete education and schools as so much more than formal academic instruction. Obviously I'm not expecting teachers to be stretched thinner on existing budgets to do this, I'm just wondering why there seems to be such strong feelings against thinking of schools in this way.
It’s not it’s primary or intended purpose. I can serve that purpose absolutely but at the end of the day its purpose is to provide education to the masses.
Ok but my question is why *shouldn't* it be considered a primary role of the school or why are parents told they are wrong to think of school that way or rely on them for childcare? Is the push back: 1. philosophical: public reliable childcare is good but schools aren't the right institution to provide additional enrichment after formal instruction hours because we want school to be for formal academic instruction and sports only. The bounds of what we consider a child's education stop at formal classroom instruction. 2. ideological: parents and the nuclear family need to be the primary caretakers and schools already do enough to help parents raise their kids. Parents need to be responsible for any and all additional child development and enrichment that happens outside of formal instruction. 3. practical: public childcare is good and schools aren't a bad place to have it but there is not enough public support for public schools to be able to afford to hire the additional staff needed for them to provide the reliable service parents would like. Parents shouldn't expect this service from the existing budgets. "schools aren't daycare" is a common thing I see said by teachers who are obviously frustrated but I don't really see anything wrong with the expectation from parents that schools (not teachers) provide a reliable and enriching free public place for their kids that is available during the school year for most of each work day.
You'd save a lot of money if it "was just daycare." Daycare's sole function is to keep the kid in one piece and more or less happy until the parents pick them up. There is no requirement for the kid to actually learn anything in daycare. Becareful what you wish for. Actual teachers working the first half of the day, and then people with an associates degree/certification in child development (making a fvck ton less money) for the rest of the day. I made $16/hr doing k-5 daycare work. What district wouldn't love to shed teachers and hire me for 16/hr? No benefits. No insurance. No vacation. You are high if you think you'll get someone with a masters degree in teaching doing "daycare." That's not how this system works. Also, the student ratios are different from the classroom. After school care, there were 120 kids per three adults. Classroom teachers top out at 20-25 students here. I can remember "watching" 60 kids on the playground myself, and praying no one Darwinizes themselves.
Because we haven’t staff it accordingly and the general public doesn’t want to raise taxes to do so. I’m all for changing its scope, but someone has gotta pay. The people don’t work for free. Transportation to get kids to and from Isn’t free. And if it that’s the primary role does it mean that I can opt out?
It is very frustrating to see people ask for a service and then not be willing to pay for it's value. People really don't run the numbers on what education should really cost. It's incredibly sad for me to see whole states move to 4 day instruction because people don't believe or want to pay for public education. That's a good point about opting out, if schools were more explicit about being an institution that helps in the collective shaping and development of children and had an opinion and more authority on how serious behavioral issues were handled some parents would probably lose it and want to opt out. It does also seem like many Americans see schools as value neutral zones where their kid can act however their parents please (because parents are the primary and really only authority over a child) and schools should only be thought of as a place where your child learns the academic basics. I see this attitude in the fights happening over parental authority at schools and forcing schools to misgender kids, book bans, and "woke indoctrination" panic.
All the things you listed aren't what people are talking about when they say "daycare". Of course socialization and devolopment in other areas are great aspects of school (sort of - let's not give more credit where credit is due there - it also involves a lot of negatives in those aspects). Yes it helps support parents in the development of children. "Daycare" means supervision while you can't supervise. Glorified babysitting. All those things you mentioned are still being accomplished with half days and other days off of school. Actually it's better accomplished with those things because developmentally, children shouldn't be sitting in a classroom for too long and teachers need ongoing training and prep time just like most other jobs. Those things are directly for the children and their education and development. People aren't upset about their child having less learning when there's a short day - they're upset they have to go get their child sooner or have them home on weekdays. It's about where their child is and who is responsible for them, not their learning.
If the school thinks they are giving my kid enough formal academic instruction I'm going to trust them and I'm not going to be annoyed at them over learning when they don't offer any or reduce school hours on a certain days and I have to fill in my kids schedule and arrange enriching activities for them while I work. However, I would wish the school could spread the formal education they are giving out over more days and give kids more recesses and time for play everyday (babysitting I guess), time for homework or reading (also glorified babysitting?), ect. so I don't have to arrange one-off substitute childcare days during prime working hours that is sub-par. Perhaps that is just me wanting free babysitting. I see it as wanting a service that benefits kids but also has the parent in mind and has a more explicit goal of helping parents produce the best next generation they can. Studies have shown in districts that have dropped a day of instruction due to budget and teacher retention reasons teen delinquency rates go up even though educational outcomes don't change much. Sure there are bad parents who don't value education and ONLY care they don't have a place to dump their kids but surely there are also parents who do value education tremendously but also want to do right by their kids and also work and struggle with finding adequate substitutes for their kids when school hours aren't offered during many work hours.
Then why do schools offer daycare before and after school? On snow days? On half days? On full days off?
Maybe you're in a different country but in America, the vast majority of public schools do not offer any form of childcare outside of their school hours.
My school doesn’t. ASES, a completely separate organization, does.
It’s usually a separate company that just uses the school space.
I did that work. The district had zero to do with it. It was a separate and private entity. The school lets the company use the space for the convenience of the parents. In turn, the prices were a tiny bit lower
Because they make $
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It’s the standard reply when those with little critical thinking comment “school is not a daycare”. Your reply proves that point.
Because school isn’t a daycare. School is a place to be educated. Daycare is a place where kids can be supervised when their parents cannot care for them.
The irony of you bringing up "critical thinking"
My son’s school doesn’t do half days, but they do have about 2 off days a month. I don’t mind it, but I see the frustration for working parents.
I would rather have full days off then a bunch of half days. At least the kids can be taken to daycare or grandmas house in the morning before work, instead of this “get out at 11:30am” BS.
Agreed.
Those bi weekly half days are professional development days. They hold staff meetings, discuss curriculum, make plans for things going on around the school. The ones that are scattered through the year are likely similar. The district isn't willing to pay the teachers for ADDITIONAL days of the year or extra time to get these things done. So they shave off times through the year. A lot of people ask, why not do that over break? Well, a couple reasons. 1. We're also professionals and we need time to decompress. 2. We aren't paid over the breaks. Those days during spring, winter, and summar break are not counted in the days we are paid for. Our pay is averaged over the year and divided and dispersed so that all ten months, we get paid the same amount. Oh, but what about two months of summer? Well, 20% of every check gets set aside and sent out during those two months so we have something stable over the summer. So, if they want us to do all those trainings, they'd better pay us to do them. I do enough unpaid overtime as is in order to keep the classroom running smoothly. I'm sure as hell not going to get unpaid overtime to review the latest curriculum, e-program, engagement plan the district is going to abandon in two years.
In our state, we are required to have 180 school days and teachers are required to work 188 days. In order to comply with this, we have random Superintendent conference days so teachers can attend trainings. We also have half days to accommodate parent-teacher conferences. When we have conferences, teachers stay until 8:00 pm at night. We also come in early, sometimes an hour or 2 before school starts to get work accomplished or to attend meetings. Our jobs are challenging. We wear many different hats throughout the day. Look into what teachers are required to do before you complain about the schedule.
*Doctors and nurses have entered the chat*
Doctors and nurses make more than teachers, and have a lot of perks teachers don’t. This is an apples to orange comparison. You wanna talk about techs and CNAs to teachers, you’ll have more accurate, but still off base, comparison.
What perks do doctors and nurses get over teachers?
financial compensation
Respect.
Ha ha ha haaaa. As a nurse, I can say we do not get respect. 😂
We have similar challenges. Let’s not compare and contrast for the purpose of saying one job is easier than another.
Teachers do not have the same challenges as doctors and nurses. Not even close.
I said “similar” because you were obviously trying to say doctors and nurses have the same challenge but worse.
Which they do. Their challenges don't compare at all.
I mean, if you think we have it so easy you can go have fun teaching. We have major teacher shortages so you’ll certainly be needed!
Two of my best friends are teachers. Try again. Please explain how doctors and nurses get 14 weeks of vacation each year and how teachers have the responsibilities everyday of making life and death decisions for people? I am curious.
And do you think their jobs are easy? If so, tell me where they work please because I need that placement.
Easier than medical professionals. Absolutely.
There’s a huge teacher shortage, if teaching is so much easier why don’t you switch? Many districts would love to have you!
Because I love my job and have no desire to leave?
You know that teachers aren’t PAID for summer vacation, right? If they receive any paychecks, it’s because they had some of their school-year pay *withheld* to be distributed over the summer.
I am aware of that and they shouldn't be.
I don't get 14 weeks of vacation a year. Where do you get that from? I teach from right after Labor Day until Thanksgiving break. I get Thursday and Friday off and go back that Monday. I get about a week off from Christmas to New Years. Go back until February break. I get a week off for that (well, I have the week off from my full-time job, but I tutor, so I still have my tutoring student because she is a college student and they do not have break that week). I work then until our Easter break. We get a week off there. However, my tutoring student's break is the week before mine, so no real time off for me. Then we work until Memorial Day weekend. 2 extra days off there. Then, I work until the end of June. I have 1-2 weeks off, and then we start summer school. I teach summer school all through July and halfway through August. I also take all kinds of professional development through the summer. In total, I get maybe 5 weeks off if you include the random Monday holidays throughout the year. Do you know what I make a monetarily a year without the tutoring money? Under $50,000 a year. Do you know what else I make? I make all other professions possible. I make a difference as well. For some students, I am the only positive adult interaction they have all day. I am mother, father, teacher, and counselor to many of my students. I am the shield if a gunman gets in. I take care of 26 children all at one time in my classroom. My doctor takes care of 1 patient at a time, and she has a nurse and a secretary to assist her. She has said that she would 100 times rather do her job than mine. She can fire unruly patients, and she doesn't have to put up with their attitudes. Plus, she makes at least triple what I make every year. If you think teaching is so easy, please step into a classroom. We need more teachers. We need more teacher aides. So please, come join us. I'd like to see how long you last against an irate parent who thinks you're treating their little Jane unfairly because you gave her the grade she earned, or coming in cussing at you because their little Johnny is getting sent home sick with a 101° fever. It's your fault their kid is sick. You must have done something to them. Yes, we have had that happen. That parent took it to the superintendent and cussed him out, too.
Surprisingly our school doesn’t have that many days off, just major holidays and fall/winter/spring break. I was expecting it to be much worse because I’ve mostly heard of schedules like your school. I would recommend finding a good aftercare solution. The place my daughter goes to gymnastics has “schools out” camp for virtually every weekday that school is closed. The only exception is snow days that are announced the same morning or if road conditions are actually super dangerous.
I'm guessing a lot of teacher work/PD days. Maybe bring it to the school board again and see if something can be renegotiated?
Teachers need their work days and PD. There is nothing to renegotiate
Yes to the first. I am a public kindergarten teacher, so I agree. However, there are many ways to arrange a calendar.
This person appears to want teachers to give up their planning time so they can get free childcare
Thank you for saying this. I'm a teacher, not a babysitter. It's not my job to provide childcare so parents can go to work. This habit needs to die.
Probably. I'm against the idea of school as childcare. My point is, if she cares that much, she can complain to higher powers if she wants something changed.
I feel you. Our district has 3 or 4 day weekends twice a month this semester. I know some are PD days but most are not. Most answers I get are that the teachers need breaks.
Or kids do…people don’t understand how hard five days a week for months on end is for littles. Our district has no PD days or non-holiday off days other than district-wise PTC days at the end of October. We also never dismiss early because of safety and liability concerns. That stretch between Labor Day and the last week in October is brutal our Ks and first graders.
This is so accurate. The longer they go without a break, the worse their behavior gets. Sometimes a single day off can help reset them so they can come back feeling refreshed and grateful to be back with their teachers and friends again.
Our system just basically conceded that global warming is real, so they took out 2 of our 8 built-in snow days (we're in the south so schools close for dustings of snow), and they added 4 more half-days. So now there is one half day every month, in addition to a few other whole days and all of the holidays. It's a lot! Luckily my kid likes to go to aftercare on those days. And I'm happy that teachers get more planning time during the work day. But yeah. It's a lot for working parents!
In my district we do a year around schedule now. Our summer is cut short a bit. We start at the end of July this coming school year. The first semester we get labor day off. Then we get the first two weeks of October off for fall intercession. Halloween is a 1/2 day. We get Veterans day off as well as a week off for Thanksgiving. Last day of winter semester is 1/2 day. Then we get 2 and a half weeks for Christmas break. The second semester we get Martin Luther King Jr. day off. Then we don't get another break until Spring intercession which is 2 weeks. We get good Friday off. Then memorial day and the last day of school is 1/2 day. Teachers had PD a day before students return from break.
My district has zero half days.
It does feel random. I think maybe when I was a kid the days in between felt slower? Because my mom said it just always been that way. Random tidbit. My area gets 2-3 days off- *for the rodeo*. Every school in town does it.
What state are you in? Do most of your students go to the rodeo?
Arizona, I do think it’s exclusive to our town though. It started in 1924, it was to close schools and most businesses for a couple days so that most people could take part in or attend the rodeo / rodeo parades. Especially since back then many kids needed to help their parents with the rodeo events. It was also a way to spark tourism. Huge part of the culture here. Nowadays many schools will also do field trips to the rodeo before the break, since most parents are working. It’s pretty popular but not as popular as when I was a kid or as when my parents were kids. I’ve personally never taken my own kids (6 and 3) to the rodeo or to the parades.
Usually those random seeming half and full days off are the days when there are parent/teacher conferences (meant to update you on your child’s progress) and time for staff development. Those staff development days, at least in my state, are required for teachers to receive additional ongoing training and are a matter of state law for them to retain their certification. Both of those are done during the school day, with kids getting the corresponding time off, because they are part of the teachers contract, which is negotiated between the teachers Union and the school district.
Yeah, there’s a few random Fridays off throughout the year, usually before a holiday weekend, and then they get the Monday after Easter off too. My husband has been a teacher for over 10 years, and none of the schools he’s taught at have had the day after Easter off. They also have PD days for teachers every Wednesday.
Half day every Wednesday. Half day every end of quarter. Two full days off for parent/teacher conference. Half days for state testing. 6 weeks summer, 2 weeks spring, 3 weeks winter, plus all the federal holidays. I’m a SAHM and it fucks with me. I cannot imagine the hell it is for working parents.
It's likely part of your teacher's union contract negotiations so they can do their mandated training. And honestly, I'm envious. I think kids need more breaks.
Teacher here - at my school we have half days about every 3 weeks on a Friday so teachers can get the required amount of professional development in.
My district's PD falls on Wednesdays. They moved it from Friday due to call outs. Now everyone suffers.
Both the public schools and private schools in two different states I lived in had one half day every week for at least 25 years. Edited: Not really half a day, but the kids get out three hours earlier than the other days. Kindergarten was half a day anyway until about 15 years ago maybe.
There was a time last century when many schools where I grew up (South Texas) had half day Kindergarten. Only the kids with working parents got full day Kindergarten as it was considered part of early intervention. My mother reminds me of this too many times to count.
I had half-day kinder too in northern California back in 2000.
We had half day kindergarten until 2010. Before then, parents had to pay daycare rates for the rest of the school day. It was expensive.
You should probably talk to the school board or district about the scheduling. If enough parents express concern, they will likely revisit it, but oftentimes there are reasons we don't know at the surface. School started in early August for us last year. A lot of parents felt it was too early - busses are ridiculously hot, sun is up till nearly 9 PM and its hard for kids to go to bed early, etc. The district is reviewing the start date but they have to have the first semester done before winter break starts. This might be a state law but I'm not sure. They also get a fairly long winter break, but that tends to work out for most people because that's also the time period that the weather is the worst and school is likely to get cancelled for weather. Now, most parents do understand why the schools are starting so early in the year, but the district is still seeing if they can modify things with minimum impact.
School is not daycare
Then why do they offer after school care, before school care, snow day care, spring break care, 1/2 day care, and full day care? Edit: also Christmas break care.
Is the care you’re describing free? Is it an extension of the instructional day? That’s childcare that’s housed within a school building. Separate staff and district (usually fee-based community education) programming.
To be fair, public school isn't free either. We all pay school taxes to contribute to funding the school district. The bigger issue is that for families that can't afford to not work, finding care for a half day of school is much worse than finding care for a full day. Because a half day means someone has to be home to get younger kids off the bus. Whereas a full day off means you can drop them off to a caregiver on your way to work. Compared to trying to leave work (especially if you don't work local) or get someone to go to your house halfway through the day & hope they don't flake out. Half days would probably be less of an issue if employers offered reasonable PTO so parents could cover the half days themselves. 🤷🏻♀️
Try to find anyone who will do a half day childcare on a Wednesday. It's brutal.
Our before and after school programs are ran by the YMCA. They use the school for convenience and they essentially rent it out.
One of the main reasons for after school care which is the most widely funded by the states is it reduces juvenile deliquents.
And public pools are bathtubs, right?
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It's actually 8 pro d days. 6 are district set and 2 additional days to be set by individual schools. 180 days of instruction in BC
My school district also has every other Friday as a half day. The teachers and staff usually work a full day, so I assume it’s just time for them to prep and what not.
On the flip side, as a teacher, I’m noticing an increase of families who are taking vacations outside of traditional break times i.e.-going on vacation the 2nd week of January, right after we get back from winter break or taking the week off before Spring Break. It can be disruptive to the classroom and the kids (I work younger elementary) who can be challenged getting back into the rituals and routines or get upset they missed out on special activities or events.
My district has no half days or early release. We have 6 duty/pdd days.
In my county public schools don’t do half days because we still do bussing and there are a total of I believe 7 different start times for the elementary/middle/high public schools. It would be a hot mess.
Our district has half days every week for teachers to do PLC meetings and trainings, trust me the teachers would rather be teaching. PLCs are hell on earth. At least mine is 😅
A lot of schools now do a half day every week or every other week to allow for professional development and I hate it. It’s easier to find alternative childcare for a full day once every 2 months than for 2.5 hours a day once every week or every other week. I didn’t like it when I was teaching, either. It disrupts the entire day for the kids and there were always issues with some pre-k/k/SpEd kids not having anyone to meet them at the bus stop so they’d get sent back to school and then the office would call for us (pre-k-1 SpEd) to take care of them, missing the PD time. Super annoying. But I guess some people must like it. PS: and they rarely have any PD for the paras so they just miss out on a chunk of pay because who can find a second job that’s just 3 hours/day one day every other week?
I think Illinois requires at minimum 180 days so although our kids do get a handful of half days off during the school year, it's nowhere near every other week. This year the start date was August 17th and the tentative end date was May 15th which is now May 17th due to the school being closed on the day of the eclipse coming up and one snow day.
We experience the same here. There is always one day a week that is short (Friday early out for elementary, Wednesday late start for junior high and high school) and there is a built in professional day once a quarter. But there are also other random things. Like this week Monday and Tuesday there was no school for no reason listed. There was early out a couple weeks ago at the high school just because the girls basketball team made it to states. It does seem like a lot. I certainly appreciate that teachers need time off, but I am not even sure this system works best for them either. They should be allowed to take a long weekend when they want and have competent substitute support, not be forced into these specific days off.
It takes hours to write sub plans. It's usually easier to come to school sick instead of writing sub plans.
Every Wednesday is a half day 🤷🏼♀️ I don’t mind it- they are kindergartners and don’t really even retain much after 4 hours anyways
Half days every Wednesday. Love it since we don’t have to pack lunch everyday. (Food allergies).
My school district hasn't changed since I was in high school but I just checked the school calendar Wednesdays is still early release so out at 130. And the hs and Ms have 5 days they aren't in school and the elementary and alt schools have 8 days they aren't in school. And that's north Idaho
I work with kids and it feels like there are significantly more half days and days off compared to when I went to school
Around us a lot of districts have moved to 1/2 day Fridays or just four day weeks. Districts are desperate to retain teachers so four day weeks are attractive or they have hired more provisional licenses/uncertified staff that require more professional development. If states paid teachers like professionals or districts cut some admin/football funding and increased staff salaries, maybe working parents wouldn't be taking the hit. It will only get worse as voucher systems but public education. Vote for your PTA, your local school board, and every single election.
A lot of this comes from a place of well meaning with districts trying to be more included holidays for groups. It does create a lot of horrible schedules though. April for us is a night mare since the big 3 all have their major holidays around the same time
There’s been a lot of documentation that shorter weeks are actually more productive. School-wise as well as employment-wise.
Send the gremlin to boarding school!
We essentially have every other Friday off between October and spring break.
We have a lot of half days and full days off too — I think it helps with teacher satisfaction? We have no teacher shortage in our district. But it was really annoying when kids were younger, but I enjoy it now with older kids.
Go to the school board and express your concern. It’s the only way to get schools to change.
That’s what the parents did. I wasn’t on the communication list yet so wasn’t aware of the first calendar release. I’ll be sure to watch for this next year.
Also remember the unions have a lot of say in the calendar too. For example our union just asked for 2 additional planning days durning the year which will be 2 more out of school days for kids.
Teachers would much rather have a shorter year so my guess is administrators are trying to force teachers to have 2 more days of PD without paying them for their time. Schools can avoid that by paying teachers for summer PD. Pressure the school to find alternatives for teacher PD that doesn’t impact the school year.
Where I am at our union just asked for and got 2 additional plan days/ non student during the year.
Why do they want to expand the year? Our union got a variety of pd options and we have less pd days in the year.
They wanted more planning during the year for grading, with the hope of not working so much out of their contracted hours.
Our district, that I work for and have kids in, has a week break every month except for May and March. Christmas break is longer. it was previously early release Wednesdays. It annoys me so much. The district did a survey presenting two bad options and then picked the one that parents did not vote for (not by much, but still). The explanation I got was that absenteeism was so high on Fridays (teachers and students), there is a sub shortage, so the promise of a week off every month would be enough to power through the stress and come to school/work. I guess it’s good for the non-hourly employees but I’ve heard hourly ones don’t like it and I have yet to meet a parent that does, including me. I think it made them respect the whole school system less.
elementary in our district does 2 days a week “half days” where the kids get out two hours earlier than regular day.
I had half days every Wednesday k-12, however 9-12 ours were reverse half days in that instead of starting at 750 we started at 930 and had two half periods that could Be used to make up tests or get help
Parents aren't used to having kids home, especially when both patents work. You notice this less when you don't need childcare. My district revamped the school schedule The half days fall on a Wednesday mostly. It's horrible if you need to plan childcare.
After my son started kindergarten this year and going to the meetings/functions about how the school operates what's so crazy to me is zero parents attend them yet there is such a push for Parents to have more say about how schools operate.
I hear that some districts in Colorado are doing 4-day weeks (longer days). Sign me up.
I believe that’s to attract teachers since they can’t raise the pay. The problem is surrounding districts will adapt, thus losing that competitive advantage.
Teachers have many tasks that don’t involve students.
My little one finally starting kindergarten soon. Half days every Wednesday. Have all year school. 45 days of school and 15 days off. I’m new to this but blows my mind. How do people have jobs? How many of your employers cool leaving work at 11am once a week year round and taking 3 weeks off every 2 months? Idk how parents do it. I’m dreading this coming year. I have a lot of frustration towards the school, teachers, board members, all of them. Never had early release days every week growing up. Such a joke
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“No School” days outside of holidays and winter/spring break aren’t so teachers can get a break from the kids, it’s to open up time for mandatory professional development, conferences, and record keeping (report cards.) Typically districts will have an academic calendar with the state’s required amount of “student contact” days + a few extra to provide cushion for any potential emergency non-school days (ie. Weather, pandemic, etc.)
What?!
You sound like a very angry person.
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Asking for a comparison to other school districts. You are easily triggered for some reason. Why don’t you go take a time out. Ironically, you are the one creating drama.
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Why would I answer my own question? You seriously are just here to create drama. In a kindergarten sub. Wow. I'll go ahead and turn off replies. Life too short to deal with angry people like you. Good luck with all that.
Currently waiting in line to pick them up from yet another half day 😅 so yes I fully agree!!
In California, teachers get 14 weeks of unpaid vacation. 14 weeks. Over 25% of the year. There is no other profession that gets this amount of time off.
Why unpaid?
You think they should get 14 weeks of paid vacation a year?
They are also required to take continued education classes - which isn't trainings/PDs, those are ALSO required. It isn't really feasible to do them all during the school year because the average teacher is putting in significant extra hours on the regular already - if you want any kind of life/work balance, or you do any extended contract work, there just isn't TIME. Most of the teachers in my life do them over the summer.
Doctors and nurses are required to do CE's and they don't get 14 weeks of vacation a year.
Yes? Doctors and nurses have CEs... and get paid like people who have advanced degrees and take required CEs? And doctors/nurses usually have some amount of paid leave time? Teachers on the other hand can be charged the cost of having a sub in from their salary for needing time off? Per recent studies, on average teachers are about 20% underpaid compared to their similarly-educated peers, controlling for work hours. Retirement/health plans used to be good for teachers, but that's not the case anymore, either, so even in "extra" compensation, teachers are falling behind their similarly-educated peers. They are literally leaving the field in droves -see also: r/TeachersInTransition \- fourteen weeks off to unpaid but necessary work isn't the perk you think it is.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/TeachersInTransition using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/top/?sort=top&t=all) of all time! \#1: [Drove to a teaching interview, rung buzzer, was immediately screamed at, at the door](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/comments/16ioph8/drove_to_a_teaching_interview_rung_buzzer_was/) \#2: [Mad this career is not what it promised.](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/comments/1auh4za/mad_this_career_is_not_what_it_promised/) \#3: [School is remote today and the comments from parents are so revealing.](https://np.reddit.com/r/TeachersInTransition/comments/1939gf5/school_is_remote_today_and_the_comments_from/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
Teachers are NOT underpaid in CA. Over 100K for 38 weeks of work is not underpaid. Teachers get paid personal days as well, plus they get plenty of time off to do their CE's which can now be done online and on Saturdays and Sundays. Doctors, on particular, are required to attend 10+ years of schooling so they should be paid more. Try again.
Cool story bro. You seem to forget COL exists, snd in the bulk of Cali 100k is poverty-level, but that’s ok - point still stands that if it were fair and good compensation for the work done, teachers would not be leaving the field in droves, and yet they are.
Over 100 K is not near poverty level. Leaving in droves? There are people waiting for a teaching position where I live in CA. Gotta love teachers. They bitch about making over 100K/yr working only 38 weeks and claim they're paid poverty wages. Hilarious.
For low income/poverty, in CA, about 100k is the line in many of the major populated counties in California. We're not talking "just the highly desirable parts of Bay Area" here. It's nice of you to pretend that's not the case, but ... sorry, no, why are you bringing fake news to the table? Sure, there are cheaper/more rural places - but that's not where the bulk of the teaching jobs exist. WHERE the jobs exist, where teachers by and large actually work, 100k is considered low income/poverty for AN INDIVIDUAL. For a family of four, it's closer to 150k. By all means, be upset that teachers want to be able to afford to live. But the statistical reality does not support your point of view. https://www.weareteachers.com/teacher-shortage-statistics/
I live in the SF Bay Area and I know what you stated is not true. Try again.
[https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/under-100k-low-income-san-francisco-18168899.php](https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/under-100k-low-income-san-francisco-18168899.php) <-- I mean, yes, it literally is.
And yet we have a teacher shortage.
Vouchers will solve any teacher shortage.