Implementing a Balanced Calendar for CVSD

As part of our five-year Strategic Roadmap, our focus is creating infinite possibilities for all students. One strategic direction implemented to aid in reaching this goal is "Reimagining Systems and Structures," which drives the exploration of a more balanced school year calendar.

Recommendation to the School Board

The CVSD Balanced Calendar Committee was established in December 2023 and held eight meetings over the course of eleven months. Their work culminated in the following final recommendation to the CVSD School Board presented at its September 23, 2024, meeting:

After eight meetings of the Balanced Calendar Committee, during which the committee discussed calendar exploration and research; impact on programs like Special Education, Transportation, Nutrition Services and athletics; consideration of various calendar scenarios; and evaluation of the results of a community and districtwide survey; we believe the following recommendations to our school board from the Balanced Calendar Committee should be considered: 

• Redistribute the 180 school days;

• Start school in late August;

• Extend the Presidents’ Day Monday holiday to include an additional four days of midwinter break; and

• Consider placing up to five non-school days on either Fridays or Mondays to create three-day weekends strategically throughout the school year, which would also provide additional school closure make-up days.

Why a change from our current school calendar to a more balanced school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year?

Central Valley School District is committed to fostering the growth and success of every student by providing a nurturing, academically enriching environment. To further enhance our educational approach, we are preparing to implement a balanced school calendar, which redistributes the 180 school days more throughout a standard school year. This shift aims to better support students, families, and staff by maintaining the same number of instructional days while minimally shortening the summer break. Below are key reasons why this change is a positive step forward for the district and aligns with priorities within our new district strategic directions… 

• Improved Student, Teacher and Staff Well-Being: Providing smaller breaks during the year allows both students, teachers and staff to recharge more frequently, reducing stress and burnout. This fosters a healthier learning environment, helping students stay focused and engaged throughout the year while promoting staff well-being and retention. 

• More Flexible Vacation Planning: Families will have more opportunities to plan vacations or family time during these breaks rather than being restricted to planning these opportunities during the summer, winter and spring breaks. This can create less disruption in students’ education and provide families with more flexibility for personal time together throughout the year.

• Consistent Academic Engagement: The balanced calendar encourages a rhythm of regular learning, reflection, and rest, which can help improve both academic performance and personal growth. By avoiding long periods of disengagement from school, students are more likely to maintain a continuous and deeper connection with their studies.

• Helps Address Summer Learning Loss: Due to having a long summer break, there is a strong research base for student learning regression. By distributing breaks more evenly throughout the year, students are better able to retain the knowledge they've gained and continue progressing academically from one school year to the next. 

• Increased Opportunities for Enrichment: The shorter, more frequent breaks provide opportunities for enrichment programs, tutoring, and academic intervention for students who may need additional support. These breaks can also be used for extracurricular activities, allowing students to pursue personal interests and passions that contribute to well-rounded development.
  
  
• Alignment with Community Needs: Based on the district survey results of families, staff, and students, many parents and community members have expressed interest in modifying the school calendar for various reasons. A balanced calendar helps create opportunities for our students to engage with our community through partnerships with businesses and outside groups during breaks, supporting our mission of building well-rounded individuals who contribute to their community. 

This approach is a strategic step in enhancing the quality of education for all students while supporting the well-being of families and staff. We believe that this new calendar model will help us better serve our students and contribute to their long-term academic, social, and emotional success. 

Background

A traditional school year for K-12 students in Washington state spans 180 days of education, with short breaks primarily around holidays and spring break during the school year and a long break each summer. Through a "Balanced Calendar" initiative, the Washington Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) has supported the work of school districts to explore options that will increase learning opportunities and reduce summer learning loss. To that end, CVSD is taking steps to explore and potentially implement a move toward a more balanced calendar.

What is a balanced calendar?  

A balanced calendar spreads the required 180 instructional days across more of the calendar year, rather than concentrating those days over nine months. Depending on the needs of the district and community, a balanced calendar may include additional breaks during fall and mid-winter, moving the school start date earlier into August and/or the end date closer to July.

Why change a good thing?

Balanced calendars are not a new concept, and as more districts research and consider this option, encouraging opportunities are emerging, including but not limited to:

• Decreased learning disruption due to a shorter summer break
• Potential for school breaks to align with grading period cycles
• Expanded options for supplementary learning intervention or enrichment
• Dispersed financial impact on families paying for childcare during school breaks
• Greater flexibility for family vacation planning and for staff schedules to help attract and retain employees

What about…

• Sports?  Washington’s Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) successfully navigates a variety of school year calendars and has stated its support of districts to determine what works best for their students and communities.
• Graduation Requirements? Graduation requirements remain the same, and high schools would continue to support each student in their pursuit of required credits, graduation pathway fulfillment, and completion of the High School and Beyond Plan.
• Advanced Placement Classes? Testing schedules for special programs will be taken into consideration to facilitate student participation.

How to be involved...

The district will have multiple opportunities for our Central Valley community to participate, whether that is through surveys and/or community meetings. 

CVSD will assemble a Balanced Calendar Committee to help guide this work, consisting of the following key stakeholders:

• Students
• Parents representing each of the three Small Learning Communities and all school levels (elementary/middle/high school)
• Business and community leaders interested in partnering with CVSD to prepare its students for success in post-secondary pursuits and life
• Teachers and staff
• Administrators representing the district and schools at all school levels (elementary/middle/high school)
• Board members
• Central Valley Education Association (CVEA) leader, Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) Education Support Professionals leader and Central Valley Coaches Association leader
• Committee Roster

What will the committee do?

• Review and research practices involved with implementing a balanced calendar.
• Determine advantages and disadvantages - see a few examples below. 
  • Summer learning loss
  • Mental and emotional health of students and staff
  • Childcare considerations
  • School traditions
  • Impact on neighboring districts regarding employee schedules
  • Demographic impacts such as free/reduced meal program
• Help develop a survey of interest and options related to a balanced calendar for our community.
• Help communicate committee progress.
• Help create a report for presentation at the May 13, 2024 School Board meeting.
• Arrive at a recommendation for the School Board's consideration.

Timeline:

• November, 2023 - Establish committee
• December 14, 2023 - First committee meeting; meeting schedule will be set
• January 11, 2024 - Committee meeting
• February 15, 2024 - Committee meeting
• February 29, 2024 - Committee meeting
• March 14, 2024 - Committee meeting
• April 11, 2024 - Committee meeting
• May 13, 2024 - Presentation to the School Board
• May 16, 2024 - Committee meeting
• September 12, 2024 - Final committee meeting to arrive at recommendation for the School Board
• September 23, 2024 - Presentation of final recommendation to the School Board
• October 14, 2024 - School Board consideration of Phase I calendar dates for 2025-2026 school year