Parents Campaign to Take Back Kids' Summers (even "Red" states)

[rodeodance]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101005_pf.html

Parents Campaign to Take Back Kids' Summers
High-Stakes Testing Has Cost Some August

By Peter Whoriskey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 22, 2006; A07

MIAMI -- The pressures of federally mandated exams have pushed public schools here and in several other states to begin classes weeks earlier than usual to squeeze in more days of instruction before the critical tests, sometimes striking August entirely from vacation calendars and devoting the month, traditionally left open for childhood leisure, to class time.

But a widespread backlash, led by disgruntled parents organized into loosely affiliated Save Our Summers groups across the country, is underway.

Legislators in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Pennsylvania are weighing bills this year that would peg school start dates to Labor Day. North Carolina, Texas, Minnesota and Wisconsin passed similar measures in recent years.

The issue is one of the most controversial aspects in the debate over the exams used to comply with the No Child Left Behind law, leading to widening opposition and adding to the litany of complaints about the side effects of what critics call "high-stakes" testing.
.....

[rodeodance]

1. "driving force behind the new schedules for many districts is the testing.

.....But a driving force behind the new schedules for many districts is the testing.

"We make no apologies for trying to prepare our students as well as possible to succeed on the FCAT," said Ruth Melton, director of legislative relations for the Florida School Boards Association, when asked about the early start dates. "It is a high-stakes test that has repercussions that begin with the student and echo up through the school district and state level."

Noting that the tests are given in February and March, she said, "We're asking that a student get eight months of learning in 5 1/2 months' time. That has encouraged moving our start dates forward."........

[Johnny Noshoes]

2. This is a start

I don't have kids so let me get that out of the way first. The one thing I would love to see and here about is kids having LESS structured time and more time to just be a kid. It seems to me that their young lives are TOO structured, TOO organized, and way TOO stressed for young kids. The time for all that crap will come soon enough just let them be kids.

[FreedomAngel82]

27. Especially the younger kids in elementary school

I remember being in elementary school and this was during the 90's. We had so much homework my Mom says he remembers me staying up till 11pm at night working on projects and stuff like that. They should have the homework but not like that. Homeschoolers don't even have that much. They only have to do four hours a day (at least a friend I knew who was homeschooled did).

[xchrom]

3. good! god there has to be some kind of time to let

kids be kids.

[ulysses]

4. fine by me.

Let them do something about the testing crap we have to deal with, then.

[tsuki]

5. Has anyone ever done a study on the energy costs of going

to school during the hottest month of the year? I remember from my school board observer days that the costs of energy are extremely high.

[phylny]

50. Not all schools have air conditioning.

My kids' middle and high school do not, and when we lived in Illinois, their brand new elementary school did not.

They baked in June and in August, September, and into October.

[tsuki]

77. I remember going to a school board meeting about the energy cost

here in Florida. The principal was closing down the intake to save on cooling costs. It raised the CO levels dangerously. He was admonished, but continued to do so until he was "kicked" upstairs to an admin position. Someone in the audience, I forget who, said that they closed the intake in schools in the north during the winter, and the resulting CO levels resulted in a poor learning environment.

[lostnfound]

6. That's excellent news. I hope they are successful.

I am horrified at how short summers have become.

Unstructured time can teach people creativity and original thinking.

[SW FL Dem]

24. This won't lengthen the summer

they will just have to attend school in June instead of August. They will still have 180 days of school it just starts and ends later. I HATE this idea because it means the kids don't finish their first semester until January, which means they have to study over the holidays. I'd much rather have my kid be able to enjoy the good weather in June. F*ck the tests, there are other good reasons to have an August start date.

[FreedomAngel82]

28. When I was at high school the year after I graduated

they started doing their exams before the holiday break so they didn't have to worry about it while they were on break. I think that makes sense because when you're on vacation you sometimes travel and you don't want to study or think about it while you're off.

[lostnfound]

37. Bummer. I'd vote for a little less school, personally

June vs August doesn't make much difference to me, though I see what you are saying.

When I was a child in Florida, I recall that returning to school at least meant the beginning of slightly cooler weather -- after labor day.

Now I guess with global warming that won't come until January!!
;)

[tammywammy]

53. Here in Texas

as far as I remember, the goal was to cut out all those extra holidays during the year, so school would start in Sept and end at the end of May.

The state will save a lot of money, because it will cut back on the A/C bill.

When I graduated in 99, it seems like every two weeks we were having a 3 day weekend for something. It just gets ridiculous. Kids here went back to school for a week and then got a 4 day holiday (I believe in them getting MLK day off, but the preceding Friday?)

[Fox Mulder]

7. Kids should get their time off.

I loved having all summer off when I was a youngin. Nine months out of the year for school is long enough.

The testing needs to be fixed too. Most tests the kids take are a joke anyways, aren't they?

[FreedomAngel82]

29. Right

If we college kids can get a long break why not them? I get my break from college from the first week in May until sometime in August I believe. It's a good couple months.

[China_cat]

8. Charleston county schools have now pushed back the

school opening date to mid-August. Last year it was Aug. 11 and they HAD proposed July 27th for this school year.

[rodeodance]

9. Business/tourist Industy led the way for later start day in WI (needed

students for the end of summer labor force.

[proud2BlibKansan]

59. Same here in Missouri

Then the state finally repealed that law, thank goodness.

How offensive that the tourism industry has a say in when school starts!

[mwb970]

10. NCLB is just another Bush failure.

He's King Midas in reverse.

[rodeodance]

31. incompetance should be the Dem slogan--Fema, Medicare Drug poliicy-

etc etc

[NashVegas]

11. I Think There's Some Dishonesty or Disingenuousness Here

Tennessee was keeping an early August start date for schools long, long before NCLB or even * came into office. I've got a friend whose kid's pre-school started even earlier.

I'm glad they're plannning to change to make their schools start around Labor day, but seriously doubt NCLB has anything to do with it, at least in our case. Now, if we could just not make them get up at 5am to catch a bus.

[NashVegas]

13. Here It Is

Okay, nothing on the other states, but in Tennessee, "It's about the economy, stupid."

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=47039

House sponsor Rep. Joe McCord (R-Maryville) said parent complaints and economic considerations prompted him to bring what many consider a local issue to the state level.

"It’s a labor force issue a little bit," McCord said. "… We are no longer an agrarian economy, but we are still a seasonal economy."

He said summer is the busy season for construction and tourism, both of which rely partly on student workers.

According to McCord, with tourism being the state’s No. 2 industry, it provides significant revenue needed for education.

...

Virginia’s 1986 school calendar legislation, according to the report, was dubbed "the King’s Dominion law" because of the amusement park’s support of longer summer holidays.

Support for legislating the school calendar in Tennessee in the past has come from the Sevier County region, home of the Dollywood theme park.

[BuelahWitch]

18. Late August start dates were happening

almost 30 years ago, back in the '70s. My last years of high school had start dates in late August.

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. Some schools are now starting in early August

We were on vacation in NC last August and a district we read about in the paper had started at the end of July!

[FreedomAngel82]

30. There are some schools here

who have the year long thing going on. They do get about two months or so off. My cousin's do that and one of my cousin seems to enjoy it. But of course that's him and he likes school and always has.

[rodeodance]

32. why did Tenn have early start dates?

[NashVegas]

35. I Always Assumed It Was An Agrarian Thing

Different plant/harvest calendar from the Northeast.

[Qanisqineq]

43. my school started late Aug. and got out early May

a lot of the other schools in my state started after Labor Day and went until late May/early June. I prefer the early start, early out. Of course, I've never had to do the other way... :D

[pstokely]

44. Schools in Missouri start in Mid-august and end a few days before or after

Memorial Day depending on the number of snow days used. They give the tests in April or May.

[proud2BlibKansan]

62. No

My district in MO starts a week before Labor Day and goes till a week after Memorial Day.

MAP testing is always in March/April, never in May. I believe it is in late March this year. They have to give it earlier than May because NAEP is in late April/early May.

[pstokely]

66. Most districts in the Kansas City area start in Mid-August and end

sometime around Memorial day depending on the number of snow days used. They give the MAP in April of 2002, that's last time I took a standardized test. The district I went to will get out before Memorial Day if they don't have any more snow days. School started Aug 17. They have 176 schools days scheduled (175 for grades 10-11, even less for the seniors).

[proud2BlibKansan]

68. That was 4 years ago

Lots about the MAP has changed in that time.

[pstokely]

70. Yes, but I was referring to this years school calendar of the district

I graduated from.

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. You said "schools in Missouri"

Not all follow the same calendar.

[pstokely]

72. In general, that's when they start and end.

Some may end before Memorial Day, and others may not. Sometimes they may start after Labor Day for construction and remodeling. They are all usually out before Mid-June. Most are in session by Labor Day.

[tammywammy]

55. I graduated in 1999

and from junior high through high school, we had August start days, like the 11th or the 13th.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

12. My first reaction as a Florida teacher is YAHOOO

but then I think that we're going to have to put in the days anyway. And right now we get out the last week in May. June is hot here, but nothing like August, with has to be one of Dante's level of hell. All our schools are wonderfullY airconditioned, so being in school in August is not a biggie.

The article neglected to say that we put in 196 days by law. The issue with the parents is that August is prime vacation months for parents at work and family trips, which is true. And getting out of Florida in August is such a good idea! The kids take the test in March, and basically after that it is party central, dude! Class trips, parties, you name it. The pressure is off. August is a month BEFORE the test, which would help in test prep. (Don't get me wrong, I hate the tests, but reality is reality.)

[Solly Mack]

14. Summer break isn't the problem. It's the other nine months

Start teaching and stop programing for a test.
MONEY. Schools need money...WITHOUT strings attached.

[LizW]

15. Caution! This issue is being misrepresented!

This push is NOT, at least in Alabama, being led by parents. It comes up again and again and it is always spearheaded by the tourism lobby. Sure, many parents would love to have schools start later, and kids certainly would love it. But it's not the big, parent-led push that this article says it is. If parents have seriously looked at this they know that there are unintended bad consequences of a later start date.

Here, those pushing for this never tell the whole story. The number of instructional days of school is mandated by state law. The dates of the high stakes testing are mandated by state law. (Here they take place in early-mid April). More and more required standardized testing means more days of testing and less days of instruction.

Teachers and school administrators here just want to retain the local authority to set their start dates when it works best for their communities. It stands to reason that if you have to give tests in April that will be used to determine whether you're adequately teaching children, you want as many days before that testing as you can get. No one ever offers local schools systems the option of moving the testing later in the year.

Teachers (and their students) are getting caught in a "squeeze" and you have to wonder if it's intentional. They have to do more, in less time, and it's their funding and their jobs if they don't succeed.

In the system where my children go to school, the district sends out proposed school calendars every spring and gets input from parents and the community about what we want. The two things that lead us to invariably choose an early start date (around August 10) are the mandated testing dates and the desire to have the first semester end before the winter break. (Most people don't want their kids having to work on term papers and study for exams during the break.) Gradually, we have cut out the "fluff" days like the October break and so-called "snow" days, so the kids get to start as late as practicable and still get out in May. Still, many holidays are federally mandated, and there's nothing that can be done about those.

I'm pretty happy with the input I have about the school year, and I don't want the state mandating something that may end up hurting my kids' education and their local schools.

[NashVegas]

16. See Post #13 - You're Correct

Although, I do think these parents' groups exist legitimately, I very much doubt they are the reason why the states are listening.

[bleedingheart]

21. however up here in PA you meet parents who do want kids to

delay going until after labor day.....however it is typically to fit in late vacations...etc

[SW FL Dem]

25. Exactly- A late start date means the semester doesn't end in December

That is a huge difference for high school students. It also means that kids have to go to school into June.

[sandnsea]

40. Our kids get out in June

They start after Labor Day and end the middle of June. Moving them up into August would make for an incredibly short summer break. Might want to factor that into the debate. And yes, it is likely the tourism industry, but you also need to know August is the biggest tourism month and tens of thousands, if not millions, would be hit with 15-20% business losses without that month. We're talking a real hit to small, rural economies. It's all worth considering.

[pstokely]

49. If they moved the starting date to August, wouldn't they get out before

June?

[Golden Raisin]

17. The longer school years

don't seem to be producing better-educated students. All you ever read about is how American kids graduate high school and can't balance a check book, spell, or estimate if their car has enough gas to get to the station. But a dumbed-down electorate is neocon paradise. I also agree with everyone who says today's kids barely have time to just be a kid. With all their endless afterschool structured activities whatever happened to Moms saying, "Go out and play! Just be home in time for dinner!"

Wouldn't it be nice if even a fraction of the trillions we've pissed away on Iraq was devoted to the educational infrastructure of this country!

[SW FL Dem]

26. The school years aren't longer

Kids go 180 days and have for as long as I remember. The issue is when the school year starts and when it ends. If you start in August, you usually end the first semester before the holidays and get out of school around Memorial Day. If you start after Labor Day, the first semester ends in January (screwing up the holiday break for lots of kids) and kids attend school until the middle of June or later.

[bleedingheart]

19. Parents are the reason why No Child Left Behind is the Law...

you see people let politicians tell them how their kids were dumb and how we needed to test these kids and make the teachers accountable..."oh yeah!!!" screamed the parents...and a bunch voted in droves for these politicians...and now...lookee...they got what they wished for....a bunch of elementary school kids stressed out because they have to pass the test...or else....the school loses funding, the school gets into trouble and the parents and the teachers are blamed for the fact that these kids can't pass these tests...and the funny part...the parents are upset that junior might have to attend school longer in order to pass the very tests they voted for....

[Skidmore]

20. Let's see. We've mandated a test that teachers must

teach to and altered the curriculum to include teaching theology as science and now we don't understand why the school year is screwed up. Perhaps we should be agitating to get back to teaching the basics.

[SW FL Dem]

22. I'd rather my kid have June off than August.

June is a gorgeous month, August is hot and humid. For the past 7 years, my kid has started school in August and finished his first semester before the holiday break. The second semester ends at Memorial Day. It is much better for him to have a true break in December than to have to study for midterms which are the week they return.

[pstokely]

52. The problem is many schools don't have AC.

The schools in my district have had AC for less than five years.

[SW FL Dem]

56. That makes sense in areas without A/C

Here in S Florida, the schools are all newer and all have A/C. In fact, my kid takes a sweatshirt to school most of the time since his school is too cold when the A/C is on.

For me, the biggest thing is ending the semester before the holiday break

[pstokely]

58. are these rich suburban schools or are these lower/middle class schools?

[SW FL Dem]

63. All of the schools in my county are air conditioned

even those in the poorest neighborhoods. In fact, the two newest high schools (opened in 2005) are in the lowest income neighborhoods. It's the rich kids that attend the two 30+ yr old high schools.

[AbbyR]

23. Really torn on this one...

On one hand, I believe that one of the great causes of youth crime, other than poverty, is boredom. Keeping kids in school longer will certainly cut down on time available to get into trouble.

On the other hand, I think the tests are a large part of the problem - teachers are under such stress to get those kids through the tests that they haven't got time to really teach.

I hate to see summers shortened, however, because my summers were a joy - I spent them at a wonderful summer camp for girls in the Virginia mountains, started young and went until I got married. Who I am today, I credit that camp, where I was very happy and learned to live the ideals that stand with me to this day, so many years later.

I think I grew up in a better world...

[pstokely]

54. The year is becoming longer because of more days off.

Winter breaks are longer. Some districts have Fall breaks. Schools in the NE and West Coast start after Labor day but don't end until nearly late june, that doesn't include snow days. How many Katrina days are schools on the Gulf Coast making up?

[SW FL Dem]

64. Exactly! Kids attend school for 180 days no matter when they start

If you add breaks, hurricane or snow make up days, and teacher work days into the schedule, the summer break can be shortened, but the kids end up attending school the same number of days. Many teachers I know actually think this is a good thing since kids lose so much over the summer break. The first month of school is mostly spent making up what the kids forgot over the summer.

[pstokely]

67. Maybe a year-round calendar is the answer?

but how would the tourism lobby respond to that?

[SPKrazy]

33. One of my biggest objections to Clinton as Governor was that he

was an advocate of testing.

Testing teachers
testing students

testing, testing, testing.

Testing doesn't prove knowledge, it proves test taking ability, and comprehension, and memory.

I liked Clinton as Governor, but disagreed with his take on testing.

I think too many people advocate testing as the answer to any problem.

I think *'s testing is absurd, tying it to school performance, and the rest of it.

[dsc]

34. In NC it was the tourism industry

not parents.

[NashVegas]

36. That's Three States Now

Out of the ones listed.

But isn't it fascinating how they're using NCLB for the PR spin?

[dsc]

39. The fact is that the year wasn't shortened at all for students

and by 5 days for teachers. I loved the 3 month summer that we had last year but we are paying for it now. We just finished exams and will be in school until June. Students will have no days off between now and Spring Break.

[mopinko]

38. wisconsin-

passed that law at the behest of it's tourist businesses, who wanted to keep their teen summer help until they closed. had nothing to do with kid's fun.

[Odin2005]

41. The educational system should be run by experts, not politicians.

I know the parents on the board will flame me, but democratically elected school boards are part of the problem. School boards do what is good for getting re-elected, not what is best for the students, which is one of the reasons (NCLB is the other major reason) why our educational system is being dumbed down. too many low grades = pissed of parents = School board having the curriculum dumbed down so less kids get bad grades.

[wishlist]

42. N.C. is starting later due to lobbying from tourist industry, businesses

N.C. had been starting school earlier and earlier in August for several years until tourism and business lobbyists (theme parks, camps, seasonal recreational businesses) convinced politicians to legislate a later start closer to the end of August because school starting in early August was limiting their summer vacation business geared to families with children. It had nothing whatsoever to do with educational needs or parents wanting a longer summer for their kids.

[pstokely]

57. Ever notice "Back to School" sales begin in July and don't end until

after Labor day.

[Mutley]

45. Good.

It's bad enough they're teaching almost completely to standardized tests these days... at least let the kids have their summers.

[TahitiNut]

46. All those kids are needed to help with the harvest ...

... along with the illegal aliens! :evilgrin:

[SomewhereOutThere424]

47. Lengthening school is just a cover...

...To the fact most teachers are not adequately prepared to teach their students properly. I could have gone to my public school where I live twice back when I went, but it still wouldn't have changed the fact they recycled old grades' books, gave us outdated books with outdated facts, and the teachers were not even certified (one admitted to no teacher training/college. He was a former fireman. I learned a LOT about the fire drill that year...very little about science).

[ulysses]

51. do you have some way to back this up

most teachers are not adequately prepared to teach their students properly

or did you just pull it out of your ass?

[SomewhereOutThere424]

61. Well I dunno, I found you there didn't I?

Have you actually attended most public schools? I've traveled the country quite a lot and all of the ones I have been to had in majority teachers who could hardly teach themselves.

Though, I frankly don't give a fuck if you agree or disagree, and if you continue to post in arrogance I hope you are seen for what you are, twit :)

[ulysses]

69. you've seen enough schools

to pass judgment on "most teachers"? Wow. That's pretty awesome.

Though, I frankly don't give a fuck if you agree or disagree,

There's a shock.

and if you continue to post in arrogance I hope you are seen for what you are, twit

Don't worry, I won't alert on the personal attack. :eyes:

[depakid]

48. 2 things- 1st, this is the Post

So give it about as much credence as fox news-

2nd. Kids NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE TIME IN SCHOOL learning not just facts (which average Americans could sorely use more of) but critical thinking skills (which most Americans are WOEFULLY deficient in).

This article doesn't come close to passing my smell test.

I don't know what Pravda's agenda is with this- but the fact that the copy is so OBVIOUSLY slanted and one sided with its "quotes" tells me that something's up- could be it's just the writer and lazy editors.

Or could be the Post wants more non-critical thinkers- so more people will buy into their daily bullshit. LOL.

Next thing you know, we'll be hearing about black helicopter conspiracies to repopulate the east with cougars. Oh wait- the Post already did that story last year....

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. School needs to be year round

Like in England. They go for so many weeks (I think 6 or 9) and then they get a 3 week break. We have charters here that have a year round schedule.

It makes far more sense. Kids lose so much over the summer. Any teacher will tell you we spend the first 9 weeks of every year reviewing what the kids learned the year before. That is a waste of time, even without having tests to prep for.

Of course year round schools would mean they all need to be air conditioned and teachers would need to be paid better. Hence, I don't think it will ever happen.

[pstokely]

73. I don't think the tourism lobby will allow that.

The tourism lobby wants long breaks For the retailers, this gap in when school begins in each part of the country means longer "back to school" sales.

[proud2BlibKansan]

75. How sad that we allow the tourism lobby to dictate to our schools.

That really makes me ill.

[pstokely]

74. This issue has nothing to due with the color of a state.

[proud2BlibKansan]

76. Good info on year round schools:

http://www.nayre.org/Six%20Questions.html