School Calendar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the main differences among the two options?

• Option 1  
  • Spring Break precedes Easter (students return to school on Easter Monday)
• Option 2
  •  Spring Break comes after Easter (students attend school on Good Friday)

**Both calendars are based on 185 school days that must be observed between August 25, 2012 and June 10, 2013 (August 27th and June 27th).

What is the difference between MW and W?
MW indicates a mandatory teacher workday - teachers (and those who follow the teacher calendar) are required to be in attendance but students are not.

W indicates an optional teacher workday - teachers (and those who follow the teacher calendar) may either work or may take an annual leave day - students are not in attendance.

 
What does the "I" indicate on some of the workdays and vacation days? 

The "I" indicates that the day is an inclement weather potential make-up day.  In other words, if school is not held on a scheduled student day due to inclement weather, any workday or vacation day coded with an "I" may be used to make-up the missed day.

What is a Vacation (V) Day?

This is a scheduled annual leave day for teachers - students are not in attendance.

Do the General Statutes mandate when school begins and ends?

Yes.  Students may not begin before August 25 and must finish no later than June 10.  The only exception is for year-round schools and certain school districts that have a history of excessive inclement weather days (typically schools in the western part of the state).  There must be 185 school days for students and a minimum of 1025 hours of instruction.

What do the R6-_ and the R9-_ indicate?

Elementary and middle schools have 9-week grading periods while high schools follow 6-week grading periods.  The "R" days signify the end of a grading period.  For example R6-1 indicates the end of the first grading period for high schools while R9-1 indicates the end of the first grading period for elementary and middle schools.  Approximately one week after the end of a grading period, report cards are released and designated by RC6 (report card for high school students) and RC9 (report cards for elementary and middle school students).

What are the IR days?

These are interim report days, which are in the middle of a grading period.  They are designated IR6 (interim report period for high schools) and IR9 (interim report for students in grades 3-8). 

Why has our Christmas Vacation been cut short?

The newly legislated 185-day school calendar, coupled with the constraints of having to place those days within a time period that occurs between August 25^th and June 10^th limits flexibility in the arrangement of school calendars to include extra vacation/teacher workdays.  August 25^th is a Saturday which requires the first day of school to be August 27^th.

What is the purpose of the days marked ER?

ER days are early release days.  These days are provided so that teachers are available for a portion of the day to schedule individual parent conferences.  There are two early release days designated for teacher/parent conferences and four early release days designated to begin holiday/semester breaks.