NNPS proposes pre-Labor Day start for 2022-2023

Calendar committee seeks parent and community input

Posted: January 21, 2022

The draft 2022-2023 school division calendar is available for community review.

The NNPS School Calendar Committee, which consists of representatives from various employees groups and parents, seeks your input regarding the proposed calendars for the 2022-2023 school year. The proposed calendars are the result of a collaborative effort of all school divisions on the Peninsula to develop a regional calendar, which allows for more uniformity among school divisions in this geographical area. Some dates may vary by school division.

Pre-Labor Day Start

As we look to next year, we are proposing to begin school on Monday, August 29th which is the week prior to Labor Day. We based that start date on responses from our past family and staff surveys and in working with the three Peninsula school divisions that opened prior to Labor Day this current school year: York County, Williamsburg/James City County and Gloucester County.

Under state law, school divisions that open prior to Labor Day must also close schools on the Friday before the holiday weekend.

Benefits of a Pre-Labor Day Start:

  • Allows schools to more quickly address gaps in student learning that have occurred due to COVID 19 and quarantine protocols
  • Increases instructional time for students preparing for high stakes tests such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programme exams
  • Continues to provide opportunities for professional development throughout the school year
  • Ends the school year earlier (by the second week in June)
  • Allows high school students to enter the summer job market sooner
  • Provides an earlier opportunity to start the school division's robust summer learning program for students

Factors in Calendar Planning

Please review these Factors in Calendar Planning that provide the guidelines within which the calendar is developed.

  • The educational program must be the primary consideration.
  • Student school year may begin before or after Labor Day.
  • Teachers generally return a week and a half prior to students.
  • State requires a minimum of 180 student days or 990 instructional hours.
  • NNPS instructional staff contracts include 192 teacher days.
  • Twelve-month employee contracts consist of 245 days.
  • NNPS works with surrounding school divisions to designate the same holidays as often as possible for consistency with regional education programs and potential staff development opportunities.
  • Determination of marking periods
  • Designation of parent conference days
  • Determination of professional development days
  • Determination of early dismissal days