We hear from many readers who feel students have too much time off in general, and that the two-hour early release days are inconvenient for families and disruptive to the classroom.
As a result, the News-Sun took a closer look.
During the 18 weeks between late August of one year and early June the next, public school students spend 180 days in the classroom. That time does not include weekends, holidays, vacations, early release or teacher professional development days.
There are three major reasons for early release and work days: mandated record keeping, classroom planning, and professional development.
New evidence-based educational policies require a substantial flow of data, covering not just whole classes each school year, but individuals over multiples of years.
Teachers provide that information by doing more data entry than ever before (test and quiz scores for example).
Because of the cut-backs in funding, there are now fewer teachers. This means they spend more time in the classroom, and have less to prepare for classes, record data, and communicate with parents.
There are 14 teacher work and professional development days in 2012-2013 -- 11 two-hour early release days and three days of no classes, so teachers can attend workshops or classes.
There are none in August, two in September, two in October, two in November, one in December, three in January, two in February, none in March, one in April, two in May, and none in June.
According to the teacher's contract with The School Board of Highlands County, secondary school teachers get a planning period every school day, equal in time to a class period. Elementary teachers are given 45 minutes, divided into 30- and 15-minute segments, and may leave the classroom for planning purposes when the students are at physical education, or being taught by another teacher.
Secondary teachers are typically responsible for 90 students a semester, and elementary teachers for many subjects -- at a time when more is expected from teachers and students. Classroom lessons and projects have to be more challenging and much more detailed. Quality lessons and useful feedback to students require time and thought.
We understand time set aside for teachers is truly hard on many families, especially single parent households, or homes where both parents are at work during the day.
We know schools are closed for an additional four holidays -- Labor Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, and Good Friday -- and three breaks: Thanksgiving, winter and spring, for another 20 days off.
We agree that is a lot of time off, and it doesn't count the summer.
Hopefully as a country we'll revisit the school calendar and extend the school year, either with more days, or a longer day. We feel this should be a national discussion, however, as coordination state to state is important.
So, where does this leave us?
On the one hand, early release days seriously upset the schedules of many working people, and finding safe, affordable child care is not easy.
On the other, cutting back on planning and paperwork time makes it more difficult for teachers to do their jobs -- and that in turn affects our children's future.
You'll have to decide what is more important for yourself -- we lean towards anything that improves a child's education.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - www.newssun.com/edt-012313