Proposed LPS school calendar for 2017–18

Lincoln Public Schools would start the 2017–18 school year on Monday, August 14, and end on May 24, according to a proposed calendar presented to the Lincoln Board of Education. The Board will vote final approval at the Feb. 9 meeting.

We welcome your comments, suggestions or questions

Background
Purpose
Context

Background

Each year a joint LPS/Lincoln Education Association committee composed of parents, Board members, education association leaders, teachers and administrators recommends a student calendar for the Board’s consideration. In addition to the Calendar Committee, the Board’s Student Learning Committee reviews the recommended calendar. It has been the practice of the Board to adopt a calendar more than a full calendar year before it is in place.

The Calendar Committee received input from the Community Curriculum Council, a district parent group with a representative from each school and from the district-wide PTO group. Finally, the Calendar Committee asked the Student Learning Committee to consider the proposed student calendar prior to recommending it to the full Board.

As in previous years, the LPS Calendar Committee has followed Board approved student calendar primary and secondary variables to design and recommend a calendar that meets the purpose statement, “The school calendar demonstrates the district’s commitment to learning. It is based on sound instructional considerations and priorities ensuring the continuity, efficiency, and effectiveness of teaching and learning. LPS established the following calendar variables to be considered by the Lincoln Public Schools Calendar Committee in devising the student calendar.”

Primary variables for considering the calendar are
  • Semester and quarter breaks typically the same for elementary and secondary schools.
  • The four quarters will typically include at least the minimum number of days necessary for students to reasonably learn the curriculum (42 days).
  • Student vacation days typically will not interrupt instruction just prior to major LPS stat or national assessments.
Additional variables
  • Each student week typically will be at least three days long.
  • Non-student days typically will be scheduled between quarters.
  • The last day of school typically will fall after the completion of NSAA and similarly sanctioned local and state competition.
  • Whenever possible, non-student days typically will occur on “common holidays,” including days such as federal and state recognized holidays.

Purpose

The school calendar demonstrates the district’s commitment to learning. It is based on sound instructional considerations and priorities ensuring the continuity, efficiency, and effectiveness of teaching and learning. LPS established the following calendar variables to be considered by the Lincoln Public Schools Calendar Committee in devising the student calendar.

Primary Variables
  • Semester and quarter breaks typically will be the same for elementary and secondary schools.
  • The four quarters typically will include at least the minimum number of days necessary for students to reasonably learn the curriculum (42 days).
  • Student vacation days typically will not interrupt instruction just prior to major LPS, state, or national assessments. Additional Variables
  • Each student week typically will be at least three days long.
  • Non-student days typically will be scheduled between quarters.
  • The last day of school typically will fall after the completion of NSAA and similarly sanctioned local and state competitions.
  • Whenever possible, non-student days typically will occur on "common holidays," including days such as Federal and State Recognized Holidays.

Note: The LPS calendar is bound by the contractual agreement between the Lincoln Public Schools and the Lincoln Education Association. Any instructional time lost can impact student learning, so decisions to close school for inclement weather or other event are made very thoughtfully. If the amount of time school is close to these events brings the total number of school hours for the year below the state minimum, the Superintendent will implement a plan for making up this time, which may require additional minutes added to the day, additional days added to the calendar, or days previously identified as non-student days re- scheduled as student days.

Federal and State Holidays: New Year’s Day, Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day, Arbor Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas

Context

Quarter Start/End Dates
  • 1st: Aug. 14–Oct. 13 44 Days
  • 2nd: Oct. 18–Dec. 22 45 Days
  • 3rd: Jan. 8–March 9 44 Days
  • 4th: March 19–May 24 47 Days
Vacation Days
  • Labor Day Sept. 4
  • Fall Quarter Break Oct. 16 & 17
  • Thanksgiving Nov. 22–24
  • Semester Break Dec. 23–Jan. 5
  • MLK, Jr. Day Jan. 15
  • Spring Quarter Break March 12–16
  • Spring Break March 30–April 2
Tentative Corresponding Dates
  • PLCs Early Release TBD
  • Early Release Days in August TBD
  • Elementary Plan Days TBD
Other Dates Considered
  • New Teachers Report August 1–3
  • Open for Flex Staff Development August 4
  • Teachers Report to Work August 7
  • Only 9th Grade Report to HS August 14
  • Semester-End Staff Work Day January 5
  • Year-End Staff Work Day May 25
Potential Graduation Dates
  • Thursday, May 24, 2018
  • Saturday, May 26, 2018
  • Sunday, May 27, 2018

If you have comments, suggestions or questions, please contact us via ConnectNow. We welcome your ideas and feedback.

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