School Board Seeks Extended Year for Two Silver Spring Schools
Students at two Silver Spring elementary schools could have longer school years if a plan by the Montgomery County Board of Education gets approval from the state.
Arcola Elementary, at 1820 Franwall Ave., and Roscoe Nix Elementary, at 1100 Corliss St., have performed below the county’s level in literacy and mathematics, according to a memo on the request from School Superintendent Jack Smith.
In response, the school system is proposing a 210-day school year, starting on July 8, 2019, and ending between June 9 and June 15, 2020.
Montgomery County Public Schools would need a waiver from the Maryland State Board of Education to move forward with the plan.
On Aug. 31, 2016, Gov. Larry Hogan signed an executive order requiring the school year to start after Labor Day and end by the following June 15.
The executive order, according to Smith’s memo, allows the state’s school districts to apply for a waiver from the start and end dates if the local school board can “demonstrate that it has met all requirements for at least one compelling justification,” Smith wrote.
“Compelling justification includes the adoption of an innovative school schedule for low-performing or at-risk schools,” Smith wrote, citing a portion of the state’s education law.
Smith’s memo says the schools’ calendars would not need extra days built in to handle emergency closures. And the schedule would have an extended break within the last two weeks of August.
There is a serious lack of parental involvement in helping their student to be responsible workers in classwork and homework. This is an example of how responsible, hardworking citizens are being charged (by use of tax funds) to cover for irresponsible parents . Require parents to have responsibility for helping their children with schoolwork
I don’t know how you would force parents to help their children with their homework! Why don’t you volunteer to tutor kids in your neighborhood if you don’t already.
The school year should be extended to 300days. And the remaining 65 days decided between holidays, “teacher ” days, & other.
We are no longer an agrarian society … There is no reason to have almost 1/2 of the year without school.