New school start date in September
Earlier this week, departing UFT head Randi Weingarten negotiated a contract that will allow the city’s teachers to start their school year after Labor Day. Previously, teachers reported to work for two prep days before the holiday, for professional development, and to get organized for the coming school year, a concession that was part of the 2005 teachers contract.
On the heels of that gain for teachers, the Principal’s Union protested, asking (understandably) how the city could expect that school leaders, teachers, and students begin school on the same day, ready to teach and learn. Accordingly, the DOE has elected to delay the start of school by a single day — the 2009-2010 school year will begin on Wednesday, September 9 — and extend the year until Monday, June 28.
It’s hard to know just how many students will remain in school for that final Monday — ask all the parents who are packing up kids this weekend for the start of the sleep-away camp season — but adding the last Monday in June permits DOE to maintain their 180-day instructional calendar without trimming other vacation time during the academic year.
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