ACPS Calendars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2014

CONTACT: Kelly L. Alexander, Director Office of Communications and Public Relations 703-824-6635 • news@acps.k12.va.us

Alexandria City School Board Adopts 2014-15 Academic Calendars,Revises 2013-14 Snow Make-Up Days   Alexandria, Va. - The Alexandria City School Board has approved both the 2014-15 School Year Academic Calendars and a modification of the snow/weather make-up days for the 2013-14 school year calendars for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students. There are two Academic Calendars: the traditional calendar that the majority of schools follow and the modified calendar applicable to Mount Vernon Community School (2013-14) and Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School (2013-15).    The School Board voted unanimously to modify the current 2013-14 school year calendars to allow for more flexibility in making up days missed because of inclement weather. The calendars previously required weather-related closures beyond three days to be made up only by adding school days to the end of the year. The revised calendar, however, allows those days to be made up on the following specific teacher work days and professional days:   Traditional Calendar: March 14 and April 11, 2014 Modified Calendar: February 28 and March 21, 2014   Because Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 were the fourth and fifth weather-related closures of this year, students will now be required to attend school on March 14 and April 11 for traditional-calendar schools and February 28 and March 21, 2014 for modified calendar schools. If there are more than six weather-related closures, the administration may add minutes to the school day to make up lost instructional time in lieu of adding days to the end of the year.   The School Board also voted (7-2) to approve the 2014-15 academic calendars. The School Year 2014-15 calendars include 183 student days and 196 teacher contract days. Columbus Day is a student holiday, but a split professional development day and work day for teachers. Winter break has been extended to a full two weeks. In order to extend winter break by two days, Veterans Day will be a regular school day, and one teacher professional day in December has been eliminated.     Next school year, any weather-related closures beyond three days will be made up on January 30, March 9 and April 17, which are professional days or teacher work days. Any additional closures will result in days being made up by adding minutes to the school day under a structured plan as an alternative to adding days to the end of the school year.   To view the approved traditional and modified academic calendars for 2013-14 and 2014-15 online, visit http://www.acps.k12.va.us/calendars.