An email campaign by parents and teachers, asking that the first day of school next fall be delayed until Monday, Sept. 13 has the Department of Education seriously considering a new start date for next fall.
A Manhattan middle school sent emails to parents today alerting them of the possible new start date: "We have been advised that the opening of school in September,2010 may be postponed until Monday September 13th. Please consult the Department of Education website and the local media for further information."
As reported by GothamSchools.org, parents have sent hundreds of emails to DOE officials by parents urging a later start date because of a calendar quirk which would have students attending only one day of school during the first week. At present the first day of school is slated for Sept. 8, a Wednesday, sandwiched between Labor Day on Monday and Rosh Hashanah on Thursday and Friday.
A sample letter to Chancellor Klein, which has been circulating on parent listservs for the past few weeks, suggests that Sept. 8 be used as a professional development day for teachers. To make up the lost day, parents propose that students attend school on June 9, 2011, which is currently scheduled as a "Chancellor's Day," for teacher training.
Meanwhile, this school year ends on Monday -- at some schools as early as 10 a.m. In our poll this week, we're asking whether your child will be attending. Take our poll let us know!
We'll let you know as soon as we hear whether school will start on Sept. 8 or Sept. 13! Stay tuned....and enjoy the first days of summer vacation!
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