What is SCUSD trying to do by adding these instructional days?
The District and SCTA have agreed on a plan to add eight (8) days
to the start of the academic calendar in 2024-25 and 2025-26. At
the State Board of Education (SBE) meeting on Wednesday, May 8,
2024, our plan was approved, and the first day of the next school
year will be August 19, 2024.
Why is SCUSD doing this?
The plan enables the district to provide extra learning time to
support the social, emotional, and academic needs of our
students.
Additionally, the District avoided incurring an estimated $39
million* in penalties for not meeting the state’s minimum
requirements for instructional days and minutes in the 2021-22
academic year.
The District and SCTA have committed to using all recovered funds
to hire additional certificated staff to support students at our
schools.
This agreement also settles several outstanding SCTA grievances
and unfair labor practice charges and is a clear sign of improved
relations between the District and SCTA.
*Figure has been revised down due to a miscalculation within the
original estimate of $47 million.
What is an SBE waiver?
To avoid incurring the penalties for not meeting minimum
instructional requirements in 2021-22, the District must apply
for a penalty waiver from the State
Board of Education (SBE).
Why are you adding 16 total days when only 8 were missed in
2021-22?
As a condition of waiver approval, the District is required to
make up the number of instructional days (8) and minutes missed
in the 2021-22 academic year for two consecutive school
calendars.
What does this mean for students and families?
The start of the school year has moved up to August 19, 2024
(previously August 29), providing additional instructional time
for students to support their social, emotional, and academic
needs.
Families and staff are encouraged to plan vacations, daycare
arrangements and other scheduling adjustments according to the
earlier start date.
When will we know if this is happening?
We will notify you no later than May 15, 2024 if we will be
adding eight (8) days to the start of the 2024-2025 school
calendar.
Any changes to the school calendar that occur after May 15th
would take effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.
