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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
the problem is that the SOL tests don't get moved back too. so when the kids take the SOL's in may, they spend the next month at school watching disney movies instead of learning anything.
same number of school days either way, but FAR less actual instructional time with the king's dominion law because the faculty has mentally checked out at the end of SOLs.
i don't have a scientific study pointing to this result, but i've never *ever* heard a parent contradict it.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Interesting
()
Date: March 10, 2014 08:06AM
‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/politics/king-s-dominion-law-stands/article_41fd6078-a413-11e3-b9a4-001a4bcf887a.html
A committee of the Virginia Senate passed over a bill that would have allowed local school boards to open for classes before Labor Day.
The bill, sponsored by Del. Tag Greason (R-32), passed overwhelmingly in the House Feb. 11 but did not make it past the Senate Health and Education committee, which held its final meeting of the General Assembly’s 60-day session last week.
“As they say down here, the bill will lay in the bosom of the committee,” Gordon “Buddy” Fletcher, Loudoun County Public Schools’ legislative liaison, said, noting that the debate over Medicaid expansion has stolen much of the spotlight this session.
Efforts to repeal the so-called King’s Dominion Law have repeatedly failed in past assembly sessions after tourism leaders warned of significant economic consequences if the summer vacation season were shortened.
http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/politics/king-s-dominion-law-stands/article_41fd6078-a413-11e3-b9a4-001a4bcf887a.html
A committee of the Virginia Senate passed over a bill that would have allowed local school boards to open for classes before Labor Day.
The bill, sponsored by Del. Tag Greason (R-32), passed overwhelmingly in the House Feb. 11 but did not make it past the Senate Health and Education committee, which held its final meeting of the General Assembly’s 60-day session last week.
“As they say down here, the bill will lay in the bosom of the committee,” Gordon “Buddy” Fletcher, Loudoun County Public Schools’ legislative liaison, said, noting that the debate over Medicaid expansion has stolen much of the spotlight this session.
Efforts to repeal the so-called King’s Dominion Law have repeatedly failed in past assembly sessions after tourism leaders warned of significant economic consequences if the summer vacation season were shortened.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
????
()
Date: March 10, 2014 08:17AM
What is the history of this law?
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Old enough to kow
()
Date: March 10, 2014 08:50AM
My oldest child started school here in 1990. This law was passed a few years before that. It is called the King's Dominion law because they lobbied for it. They wanted school to start after Labor Day so they wouldn't lose all of their summer employees before their busy season ended Labor Day Weekend. A lot of school systems in the Northeast US start after Labor Day.
The tradeoff is that school ends later into June than it otherwise would. I am not sure why people are upset by this. It is the same amount of school. Whether you start earlier and end earlier or start after Labor Day- it all equals out.
The tradeoff is that school ends later into June than it otherwise would. I am not sure why people are upset by this. It is the same amount of school. Whether you start earlier and end earlier or start after Labor Day- it all equals out.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
????
()
Date: March 10, 2014 08:52AM
Old enough to kow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My oldest child started school here in 1990. This
> law was passed a few years before that. It is
> called the King's Dominion law because they
> lobbied for it. They wanted school to start after
> Labor Day so they wouldn't lose all of their
> summer employees before their busy season ended
> Labor Day Weekend. A lot of school systems in the
> Northeast US start after Labor Day.
>
> The tradeoff is that school ends later into June
> than it otherwise would. I am not sure why people
> are upset by this. It is the same amount of
> school. Whether you start earlier and end earlier
> or start after Labor Day- it all equals out.
Ah! Thanks for the clarification.
-------------------------------------------------------
> My oldest child started school here in 1990. This
> law was passed a few years before that. It is
> called the King's Dominion law because they
> lobbied for it. They wanted school to start after
> Labor Day so they wouldn't lose all of their
> summer employees before their busy season ended
> Labor Day Weekend. A lot of school systems in the
> Northeast US start after Labor Day.
>
> The tradeoff is that school ends later into June
> than it otherwise would. I am not sure why people
> are upset by this. It is the same amount of
> school. Whether you start earlier and end earlier
> or start after Labor Day- it all equals out.
Ah! Thanks for the clarification.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Choice?
()
Date: March 10, 2014 09:30AM
Old enough to kow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My oldest child started school here in 1990. This
> law was passed a few years before that. It is
> called the King's Dominion law because they
> lobbied for it. They wanted school to start after
> Labor Day so they wouldn't lose all of their
> summer employees before their busy season ended
> Labor Day Weekend. A lot of school systems in the
> Northeast US start after Labor Day.
>
> The tradeoff is that school ends later into June
> than it otherwise would. I am not sure why people
> are upset by this. It is the same amount of
> school. Whether you start earlier and end earlier
> or start after Labor Day- it all equals out.
Maybe they want their elected school board do do what is in the best interest of their students / parents.
Not what is best for kings dominion
-------------------------------------------------------
> My oldest child started school here in 1990. This
> law was passed a few years before that. It is
> called the King's Dominion law because they
> lobbied for it. They wanted school to start after
> Labor Day so they wouldn't lose all of their
> summer employees before their busy season ended
> Labor Day Weekend. A lot of school systems in the
> Northeast US start after Labor Day.
>
> The tradeoff is that school ends later into June
> than it otherwise would. I am not sure why people
> are upset by this. It is the same amount of
> school. Whether you start earlier and end earlier
> or start after Labor Day- it all equals out.
Maybe they want their elected school board do do what is in the best interest of their students / parents.
Not what is best for kings dominion
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
TEACHER UNION
()
Date: March 10, 2014 09:43AM
Can anyone point to data that shows that starting the school year before Labor Day produces better results? By any measure. Serious about this. Willing to entertain the change if there's demonstrable, overwhelming data proving there's some sort of positive correlation with starting earlier even with the same number of days.
(I'd be all for starting earlier if they ended the same time, meaning MORE school days for the SAME dollars.)
(I'd be all for starting earlier if they ended the same time, meaning MORE school days for the SAME dollars.)
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
NOVA.Parent
()
Date: March 10, 2014 11:13AM
I know Kings Dominion lobbied for this and I know many people vilify them for it but...
I've never liked the idea of starting school BEFORE Labor Day. The kids start, they have ONE week of class, and then they have a 3 day weekend. So, when they return to class on Tuesday following Labor Day, it's really like they're re-starting the school year. I don't mind the school year extending a bit longer than other school districts to accommodate this either.
I've never liked the idea of starting school BEFORE Labor Day. The kids start, they have ONE week of class, and then they have a 3 day weekend. So, when they return to class on Tuesday following Labor Day, it's really like they're re-starting the school year. I don't mind the school year extending a bit longer than other school districts to accommodate this either.
‘King’s Dominion Law’+SOL timing suck in combination
Posted by:
Radon's Daughter
()
Date: March 10, 2014 11:50AM
It is the combination of the "King's Dominion law" and SOL timing that really sucks.
Starting the school year earlier or scheduling the SOLs later would reduce the number of wasted days where the teachers no longer teach because the SOLs have already happened.
The SOLs (if we have to have them) should be just before the end of school.
By the way, this is ONE of the problems with scheduling make-up days at the end of the year.It puts the make-up days after the SOLs when the provide no pedagogical value.
Starting the school year earlier or scheduling the SOLs later would reduce the number of wasted days where the teachers no longer teach because the SOLs have already happened.
The SOLs (if we have to have them) should be just before the end of school.
By the way, this is ONE of the problems with scheduling make-up days at the end of the year.It puts the make-up days after the SOLs when the provide no pedagogical value.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
markcorrigan
()
Date: March 10, 2014 12:57PM
TEACHER UNION Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can anyone point to data that shows that starting
> the school year before Labor Day produces better
> results? By any measure. Serious about this.
> Willing to entertain the change if there's
> demonstrable, overwhelming data proving there's
> some sort of positive correlation with starting
> earlier even with the same number of days.
>
> (I'd be all for starting earlier if they ended the
> same time, meaning MORE school days for the SAME
> dollars.)
Only anecdotally -- there are a number of colleges and universities, even in Maryland and Virginia, that offer programs to high school students that cannot be attended by local students due to the late date at which the spring session end here.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can anyone point to data that shows that starting
> the school year before Labor Day produces better
> results? By any measure. Serious about this.
> Willing to entertain the change if there's
> demonstrable, overwhelming data proving there's
> some sort of positive correlation with starting
> earlier even with the same number of days.
>
> (I'd be all for starting earlier if they ended the
> same time, meaning MORE school days for the SAME
> dollars.)
Only anecdotally -- there are a number of colleges and universities, even in Maryland and Virginia, that offer programs to high school students that cannot be attended by local students due to the late date at which the spring session end here.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Old enough to know
()
Date: March 10, 2014 05:06PM
>
> Maybe they want their elected school board do do
> what is in the best interest of their students /
> parents.
> Not what is best for kings dominion
What evidence do you have that this is not in the best interest of the students and/or their parents? I really don't know if one is better than the other. I just don't see how the current schedule hurts anyone except for the SOL schedule part.
If that is an issue- seems like it is- then I would support a change. The SOL tests didn't exist when this law was enacted. I don't know of any programs that students miss out on as my kids went to plenty of summer programs. There must be some since a poster mentioned that.
There are waivers granted to school districts that have greater snow days than others. Fauquier gets this quite often. I have a brother who lives there. Like another poster wrote, my brother doesn't like the one week of school before the holiday weekend. He would prefer his kids have more time to get in the routine of school before having that break- just a parent's opinion.
> Maybe they want their elected school board do do
> what is in the best interest of their students /
> parents.
> Not what is best for kings dominion
What evidence do you have that this is not in the best interest of the students and/or their parents? I really don't know if one is better than the other. I just don't see how the current schedule hurts anyone except for the SOL schedule part.
If that is an issue- seems like it is- then I would support a change. The SOL tests didn't exist when this law was enacted. I don't know of any programs that students miss out on as my kids went to plenty of summer programs. There must be some since a poster mentioned that.
There are waivers granted to school districts that have greater snow days than others. Fauquier gets this quite often. I have a brother who lives there. Like another poster wrote, my brother doesn't like the one week of school before the holiday weekend. He would prefer his kids have more time to get in the routine of school before having that break- just a parent's opinion.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Choice?
()
Date: March 10, 2014 05:12PM
Old enough to know Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Maybe they want their elected school board do
> do
> > what is in the best interest of their students
> /
> > parents.
> > Not what is best for kings dominion
>
> What evidence do you have that this is not in the
> best interest of the students and/or their
> parents? I really don't know if one is better
> than the other. I just don't see how the current
> schedule hurts anyone except for the SOL schedule
> part.
>
> If that is an issue- seems like it is- then I
> would support a change. The SOL tests didn't
> exist when this law was enacted. I don't know of
> any programs that students miss out on as my kids
> went to plenty of summer programs. There must be
> some since a poster mentioned that.
>
> There are waivers granted to school districts that
> have greater snow days than others. Fauquier gets
> this quite often. I have a brother who lives
> there. Like another poster wrote, my brother
> doesn't like the one week of school before the
> holiday weekend. He would prefer his kids have
> more time to get in the routine of school before
> having that break- just a parent's opinion.
I have no clue if it is good, bad, or makes no difference.
The point was that the local school boards could decide based on their students needs.
different areas may want / need different dates.
I'm fine either way.
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Maybe they want their elected school board do
> do
> > what is in the best interest of their students
> /
> > parents.
> > Not what is best for kings dominion
>
> What evidence do you have that this is not in the
> best interest of the students and/or their
> parents? I really don't know if one is better
> than the other. I just don't see how the current
> schedule hurts anyone except for the SOL schedule
> part.
>
> If that is an issue- seems like it is- then I
> would support a change. The SOL tests didn't
> exist when this law was enacted. I don't know of
> any programs that students miss out on as my kids
> went to plenty of summer programs. There must be
> some since a poster mentioned that.
>
> There are waivers granted to school districts that
> have greater snow days than others. Fauquier gets
> this quite often. I have a brother who lives
> there. Like another poster wrote, my brother
> doesn't like the one week of school before the
> holiday weekend. He would prefer his kids have
> more time to get in the routine of school before
> having that break- just a parent's opinion.
I have no clue if it is good, bad, or makes no difference.
The point was that the local school boards could decide based on their students needs.
different areas may want / need different dates.
I'm fine either way.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
wbKXF
()
Date: March 10, 2014 06:17PM
A better solution is year round school. Underprivileged spics and coons would benefit greatly.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Terrible Law
()
Date: March 10, 2014 06:52PM
This is a terrible law. A previous poster mentioned SOL tests. The same problem exists in high school for AP tests, and has much more serious consequences for high school students, who would surely benefit from more instructional time before the APs (as opposed to completely useless time after the exam). College credit -- and therefore in some cases hard-earned tuition dollars -- are on the line here.
Almost 2/3 of school districts in VA receive a waiver for this law, but Fairfax has never qualified because, essentially, we are too wealthy and our students do too well on SOLs. Also important to know that as of last year, 120 of 130 School Boards in VA were on record as opposing the Kings' Dominion Law. That includes the School Board in Busch Gardens' district. This law places the tourism industry's needs above education, plain and simple.
The argument that this law is important for tourism dollars also doesn't pass the laugh test. There are only two states who mandate post-Labor Day starts; Michigan is the other one. So if this is so important, why don't California and Florida -- where, arguably, tourism is a more dominant industry -- do this?
In addition, conditions have drastically changed at the amusement parks since this law was passed. Most of the summer employees are from Eastern Europe, not high schoolers earning extra bucks. The parks don't need workers; they just want our dollars. And since other states' kids are already back at school, really, this is about OUR families' dollars during those last weeks of summer.
Almost 2/3 of school districts in VA receive a waiver for this law, but Fairfax has never qualified because, essentially, we are too wealthy and our students do too well on SOLs. Also important to know that as of last year, 120 of 130 School Boards in VA were on record as opposing the Kings' Dominion Law. That includes the School Board in Busch Gardens' district. This law places the tourism industry's needs above education, plain and simple.
The argument that this law is important for tourism dollars also doesn't pass the laugh test. There are only two states who mandate post-Labor Day starts; Michigan is the other one. So if this is so important, why don't California and Florida -- where, arguably, tourism is a more dominant industry -- do this?
In addition, conditions have drastically changed at the amusement parks since this law was passed. Most of the summer employees are from Eastern Europe, not high schoolers earning extra bucks. The parks don't need workers; they just want our dollars. And since other states' kids are already back at school, really, this is about OUR families' dollars during those last weeks of summer.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Evidence Here!
()
Date: March 10, 2014 07:04PM
TEACHER UNION Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can anyone point to data that shows that starting
> the school year before Labor Day produces better
> results?
How about right here in Fairfax County? In the early 2000s two high schools, JEB Stuart and Falls Church, argued successfully that they should start earlier because their student population contained a huge percentage of "at risk" students who could benefit from additional instructional time before testing. Guess what? Test scores went up:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11932-2004Oct6.html
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can anyone point to data that shows that starting
> the school year before Labor Day produces better
> results?
How about right here in Fairfax County? In the early 2000s two high schools, JEB Stuart and Falls Church, argued successfully that they should start earlier because their student population contained a huge percentage of "at risk" students who could benefit from additional instructional time before testing. Guess what? Test scores went up:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11932-2004Oct6.html
Posted by:
chuckhoffmann
()
Date: March 10, 2014 08:23PM
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2014 09:08AM by chuckhoffmann.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2014 09:08AM by chuckhoffmann.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Leftist.Gorilla
()
Date: March 10, 2014 08:27PM
wbKXF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A better solution is year round school.
> Underprivileged spics and coons would benefit
> greatly.
Ah yes...another racist conservatard with a "great" idea! And NO WAY to pay for it...shocker.
-------------------------------------------------------
> A better solution is year round school.
> Underprivileged spics and coons would benefit
> greatly.
Ah yes...another racist conservatard with a "great" idea! And NO WAY to pay for it...shocker.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Curmudgeon
()
Date: March 11, 2014 12:27AM
Quote
Can anyone point to data that shows that starting the school year before Labor Day produces better results? By any measure. Serious about this. Willing to entertain the change if there's demonstrable, overwhelming data proving there's some sort of positive correlation with starting earlier even with the same number of days.
the problem is that the SOL tests don't get moved back too. so when the kids take the SOL's in may, they spend the next month at school watching disney movies instead of learning anything.
same number of school days either way, but FAR less actual instructional time with the king's dominion law because the faculty has mentally checked out at the end of SOLs.
i don't have a scientific study pointing to this result, but i've never *ever* heard a parent contradict it.
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
cMcED
()
Date: March 11, 2014 12:08PM
“As they say down here, the bill will lay in the bosom of the committee,”
SHUT THE FUCK UP FLETCHER. YOUR WRITING BILL ON A PARK YOU DON'T OWN ??
ON MY FUCKING TIME ???
SHUT THE FUCK UP FLETCHER. YOUR WRITING BILL ON A PARK YOU DON'T OWN ??
ON MY FUCKING TIME ???
Re: ‘King’s Dominion Law’ Stands
Posted by:
Ffx parent
()
Date: March 11, 2014 12:25PM
Curmudgeon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> the problem is that the SOL tests don't get moved
> back too. so when the kids take the SOL's in may,
> they spend the next month at school watching
> disney movies instead of learning anything.
>
> same number of school days either way, but FAR
> less actual instructional time with the king's
> dominion law because the faculty has mentally
> checked out at the end of SOLs.
>
> i don't have a scientific study pointing to this
> result, but i've never *ever* heard a parent
> contradict it.
The last two years I've taken my kids out of school with 3 days left and made our annual family gathering in myrtle beach. My other family members hav schools that get out in may, so its the middle of their summer break. The school tried to indicate that I shouldn't do this, but when I asked what instruction were they missing, they couldn't answer me. Everyone blanks out after SOLs.
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>Quote
Can anyone point to data that shows that
> starting the school year before Labor Day produces
> better results? By any measure. Serious about
> this. Willing to entertain the change if there's
> demonstrable, overwhelming data proving there's
> some sort of positive correlation with starting
> earlier even with the same number of
> days.
> the problem is that the SOL tests don't get moved
> back too. so when the kids take the SOL's in may,
> they spend the next month at school watching
> disney movies instead of learning anything.
>
> same number of school days either way, but FAR
> less actual instructional time with the king's
> dominion law because the faculty has mentally
> checked out at the end of SOLs.
>
> i don't have a scientific study pointing to this
> result, but i've never *ever* heard a parent
> contradict it.
The last two years I've taken my kids out of school with 3 days left and made our annual family gathering in myrtle beach. My other family members hav schools that get out in may, so its the middle of their summer break. The school tried to indicate that I shouldn't do this, but when I asked what instruction were they missing, they couldn't answer me. Everyone blanks out after SOLs.