A Great Comment From a Concerned Reader

DAVE- INTERESTING ARTICLE - thought you might like to read. Too bad
HILLSBOROUGH isn't considered "academically high performing". If you ask
me- it is backwards- low performing needs more time, not the high performing
schools. Something is wrong with this whole picture with the Save our
Summers law if it can be ignored by some!!!




For real-time mobile news, go to http://m.floridatoday.com.

Brevard gets OK to start school Aug. 10

Students have only two weeks left of summer vacation.

They return to classrooms on Aug. 10, two weeks before children in
neighboring counties.

This year, the district received an exemption from the Save Our
Summers legislation, which requires public schools to start the school
year no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day. The exemption allows
"academically high performing" districts, such as Brevard, to begin
school when needed.

"The school year is 180 days long no matter how you slice it, so it
doesn't make a big difference," said Jill Kovacs, a parent whose son
will enter third grade at Suntree Elementary in Melbourne. "But
starting the year earlier gives teachers more time to analyze and
diagnose how kids are doing. This will help them perform better on
standardized tests"

Brevard officials agree, arguing that the schedule change will help
maintain the district's high performing status and alleviate testing
stress.

Starting earlier will give students an extra week to prepare for the
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, which begins in February.
Advanced Placement students also will have an additional week to study
for their May exams. Students should also have extra class time to
prepare for college entry tests such as the ACT and SAT.

Also last school year, middle and high school students took first
semester exams after they returned from winter break. The post-holiday
tests caused students anxiety and were a headache for parents, who had
to adjust holiday travel plans.

"For the older students, it's better for them to be able to have
testing done for the semester once they leave for winter break," said
Pam Alvis, a kindergarten teacher at Gemini Elementary in Melbourne
Beach. "But for the little ones, it doesn't matter much when we come
back. They are always excited to come to school and see their
friends."

Most teachers return to classrooms on Aug. 3.

Brevard, along with 10 other districts, received the exemption because
it maintained an "A" grade for two consecutive years, had no "F"
schools, complied with class size requirements and had unsoiled state
audits.

posted by admin @ 7:34 PM