Calendar FAQ:
Why doesn’t school start after Labor Day or at least a week later than it does?
Starting later would require shorter winter/spring breaks or extending the school year into June. The committee recommendation is to start earlier in the year, maintain longer winter/spring breaks, and end prior to Memorial Day.
Why doesn’t spring break always coincide with Easter?
The committee has recommended to maintain a consistent week for spring break, so spring break is placed on the week containing April 1st from year to year rather than on the week containing Easter.
Could fall break be a full week? Could fall break be removed?
Given proximity to Thanksgiving and winter break, a week-long fall break has not been recommended by the committee. The committee anticipates that a majority of students, parents, and teachers would like to retain the break.
Why does the calendar start and end when it does?/Could we start after Labor Day and go a few weeks into June?/Could we eliminate breaks and start later (and still end before June)?/Could we start earlier in August and have several long breaks during the year?/Could we do a year-round schedule for all schools?
Each calendar needs to include an established number of instructional days. Balancing priorities around start/end dates and breaks is a complicated task, and opinions differ widely. The committee’s primary task is to understand and seek to meet the calendar needs of students and teachers. Not all needs are met by any one calendar, but the committee is confident that the approved calendar is the best possible result in consideration of the varied priorities of the community.
Why are we starting in August when it’s hot and our school doesn’t have air conditioning or an adequate cooling system?
Our district facility teams have made significant strides in keeping our classrooms cool on hot days, but we still have areas where the cooling systems are unable to keep up with extreme temperatures. Classroom temperatures are a major consideration of the committee, but they are considered in conjunction with other competing priorities such as length of breaks and school year end date. An earlier start date in August does potentially mean a few more days with warmer classrooms. Regardless of when school begins, the district anticipates warm temperatures in some spaces and remains committed to addressing these needs with improved systems.
Why can’t we get rid of late start Wednesdays and have secondary schools follow the early out schedule like elementary schools?
Early out and late start schedules are established to provide teacher teams with essential collaborative planning time and to meet other school needs. These determinations are not made by the calendar committee; they are made through a negotiations process between the Davis Education Association and the district.
When do other districts start the new school year?
Each school district determines start dates independently to meet the needs of their own communities. In the 2023-24 school year, the start date for Davis School District was in the same week as the start date for 22 of the 42 school districts in Utah.
Why does school start on Thursday and the first two days on an early out schedule?
Each year is different, but for the current calendar, starting on Thursday was necessary given other scheduling priorities. Starting with two early-out days allows students and teachers to learn expectations, establish procedures, come to know teachers and peers, and prepare for a strong start the following Monday. Also, given the August start date, the two early out days allow school to dismiss before the hottest part of the day.
Why are there professional days at the end of each term?
Professional days are necessary for teachers to plan, finalize course grades, and receive professional development. The committee supports the request of the Davis Education Association to hold these days at the end of the term when possible.
Why is there a professional day on the day after Halloween?
Scheduling a professional day after Halloween was among the most requested priorities the committee received from community comments. It allows students and families to recover from the busy day and evening of Halloween activities. This may not always be possible or necessary.
Why do we have a two-week winter break?
Students and teachers benefit from taking a two-week break during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. A two-week winter break was among the most requested priorities the committee received from community comments.
Additionally, the committee received requests to end first semester before winter break. Doing so allows students and teachers to enjoy the holidays without worrying about assignments or school projects. The professional day at the end of winter break allows teachers to finalize course grades and prepare for the next semester.
