Sample Calendars

 Just as every school district has different needs and resources, the ways that districts allocate their 180 days is different in every district. These are some samples of balanced calendars that are in use in Washington and in some other states. The reason that districts choose to modify their calendar from the traditional configuration is also different. For some, it is to improve student learning as reflected on state tests. For others, it is to provide enrichment programming (Hopewell). Some communities schedule their breaks to coincide with important events such as Pow Wow or deer season. However it is structured, each community began with the question, "Why would we make a change?" Each community found a compelling reason to reexamine their school calendar to see if there were untapped benefits. 

Sample calendars are available here.

Some of the following districts are also examining their calendars while others are in year 1 or 2 of implementation:

• Asotin-Anatone School District
• Benge School District
• Bremerton School District
• Candy Mountain Academy
• Cashmere School District
• Chewelah School District
• Chimacum School District
• Columbia School District (Walla Walla)
• Crescent School District
• Elma School District
• Finley School District
• Freeman School District
• Goldendale School District
• Highland School District
• Kiona-Benton School District
• Kahlotus School District

• Kittitas School District
• Lopez Island School District
• Mossyrock School District
• Mount Adams School District
• Mount Vernon School District
• North Mason School District
• North Thurston School District
• Oakville School District
• Olympia School District
• Paterson School District
• Pomeroy School District
• Port Angeles School District
• Port Townsend School District
• Prescott School District
• Rainier Valley Leadership Academy

• Roosevelt School District
• Selah School District
• Soap Lake School District
• Skykomish School District
• Thorp School District
• Toppenish School District
• Touchet School District
• Union Gap School District
• Vancouver School District
• Wahluke School District
• Waitsburg School District
• Winlock School District
• Yakima School District

What is a Balanced Calendar?

 Each year in the spring, we set our clocks forward by one hour. With only a few exceptions, we do this to have sunlight during one additional waking hour of the day. "Daylight Savings time" corresponds to the position of the Sun in the Northern hemisphere and has long been a way to enjoy more hours of sunlight. It does not increase the amount of hours of sunlight it just aligns our day with when the sunlight is most prevalent. 

Traditional school calendars have 180 days of school with a few holidays and breaks and then in June, schools close for about 11 weeks for summer vacation. This way of organizing time has been practiced for over 100 years in the U.S. This 11 week break creates what all teachers know as the "Summer Slide". When students return from summer vacation, teachers spend the first 4-6 weeks of school reteaching information and skills that were taught in the previous school year. This delays the introduction of new material and skills until mid-October.

A balanced calendar reorganizes the school year to reduce the effect of the "Summer Slide" by taking some of the vacation time from the summer and placing strategically within the 180 days of school. Just as Daylight Savings Time doesn't provide more hours of sunlight, a balanced calendar doesn't add days of school or decrease the total vacation time. A balanced calendar strategically places vacations where they can do the least amount of harm and provide rest when rest is needed.

Some districts choose to offer optional programming during the summer- "Summer School". With a balanced calendar, this optional programming can be provided during the breaks during the school year. These are called "intersessions". Intersessions are optional for both students and staff and are in addition to the 180 day school year. Some choose to take time off and rest. Others want to teach and learn new things or improve skills that they are currently learning. Whatever the programming, it is elective in nature.

We aren't sure if this approach to structuring time will be beneficial to Toledo, but we're curious to see if what has worked for others might have benefits here. Follow the journey of the task force and share your questions and ideas here as well. They will be shared with the task force.

More about balanced calendars in Washington.

Task Force Meeting Oct 17, 2022

Our thanks to Michelle Curry and Terry Van Santer for making the drive from the north to facilitate our work this year. Michelle is a retired school superintendent who has facilitated the balanced calendar work of Highland and Wahluke School Districts in Washington State. She is a coach for several districts with the Washington State Leadership Academy. Terry is her long-time associate who scribes and assists with logistics.

A delegation of task force members attended the balanced calendar conference in Yakima on October 12 & 13.  Sarita Loya, Pres. PSE, Alicia Booker, Pres. PSE Drivers, Tracie Cannon, Pres. TEA, Angela Bacon, Principal TES and Chris Rust attended. They shared the benefits and challenges of a balanced calendar with the team along with a variety of ways that different communities have structured their balanced calendars.

The delegation recommended that the task force engage in a book study of "Summer vs. School" by Jim Pedersen. Chris will order books sufficient for the task force and to place in the Toledo Library for community check out. The group agreed to have chapters 1 and 2 read prior to the next meeting on November 21.

Michelle shared 6 questions for the group to consider. One of those questions is "Who else and how should we include the community to help with this decision?"  We still need to invite 3 students from THS (athlete plus two more) and one student from CPA as well as a daycare provider,  liaison from the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church and a member of the City Council. I have calls in to all of these folks.

We had lots of conversation regarding what is possible, what is challenging and what we want to know more about. Michelle suggested getting guest speakers from other districts to share their experiences with us. This would likely be done via zoom. 

The repository for our work is online at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rBdycl4vQuLM4tgzORlRQmrtY9YZMN9x?usp=sharing and is available to anyone with this link.