DeKalb Schools has been trying to nail down the 2015-2016 School Calendar for the last few months. We can make it official at the Jan 12, 2015 board meeting. Let me know if you have any feedback regarding the calendar below.
| Calendar | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 |
| Pre-planning | Aug 4-8, 2014 | Aug 3-7, 2015 |
| First day of school | Aug 11, 2014 | Aug 10, 2015 |
| Labor Day | Sept 1, 2014 | Sept 7, 20 IS |
| Professional Development Day | Oct 13, 2014 | Oct 9, 2015 |
| Columbus Day | Oct 13, 2014 (Observed as Professional Development Day) | Oct 12, 2015 (Observed as Holiday) |
| Thanksgiving break | Nov 24-28, 2014 | Nov 23-27,2015 |
| Last day of Ist semester | Dec 19, 2014 | Dec 18, 2015 |
| December winter break | Dec 22, 2014 – Jan 2, 2015 |
Dec 21 , 2015 – Jan 1, 2016 |
| Post planning 1 st semester/ Pre-planning 2nd semester |
Jan 5, 2015 (Teacher Workday) | Jan 4, 2016 (Teacher Workday) |
| First day of 2nd semester | Jan 6, 2015 | Jan 5, 2016 |
| MLK Day | Jan 19, 2015 | Jan 18, 2016 |
| February Break | NA | Feb 12, 2016 |
| President’s Day | February 16, 2015 | Feb 15, 2016 |
| Professional Learning Day | NA | March 11,2016 |
| Inclement Weather Day | NA | April 1, 2016 |
| Spring Break | April 6-10, 2015 | April 4-8, 2016 |
| Last day of school | May 22, 2015 | May 26, 2016 |
| Post planning Day | May 26-27, 2015 | May 27, 2016 |
| Days 1st semester | 88 | 87 |
| Days 2nd Semester | 92 | 93 |
| # of school days | 180 | 180 |
Survey Question: I would like to start the school year on Aug 3, 2015 to incorporate a fall break (one week/five consecutive days).
Results: Roughly 3,200 parents responded and 2,500 school employees (and a handful of students). 56% of the parents were against a fall break. 73% of the employees were for a fall break.
No fall breaks in our near future.
“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
I, too, would like a fall break.
I have long said that building a school calendar is not rocket science. There is a formula – follow the required holidays, plug in some workdays and count the # of school days required – DONE! I wish we could go back to starting the school year in late August and getting out in early June though. It is too dang hot in Atlanta to be in school for the month of August and too cool for pools to be open in May! The calendar was “shifted” to appease the high schools – I have not heard a word that test scores have improved due to the shift.
i would prefer a fall break and wish dekalb would not schedule spring break at the same time as Fulton/APS. Would make spring break destinations less crowded, camps less crowded, etc.
Am I the only one concerned that only 3.2% of the student population’s parents (assuming only one parent per family) responded??? Is there a way to bolster participation in this survey? It would also be AWESOME to see reasons provided within the survey as to why a fall break is being offered as an option (helps with semester one burnout, helps teachers w reflection and planning time, etc…)
Fall break, balanced calendar and early release Wednesdays are trending across the country. Half of the Metro School Calendars have a fall break.
If our spring break was different, then many things would not be as crowded. However, many families have children in different schools or friends in different schools they would like to coordinate spring break with.
would like to see school calendar go from late August /early sept to early or late June
What is the philosophy behind our calendar when the majority of the country has the students and teachers off for the months of July and August the two hottest months and the time when camps pools and kid friendly activities are available