One-week earlier start date advantage to students
The Loveland City School District has announced a potential change for the 2013-14 school calendar designed to increase instruction time for students prior to assessments. The current calendar, originally adopted by the Loveland Board of Education in April 2012, currently lists August 27, 2013, as the first day of school for students. School administrators are considering a recommendation to begin school a week earlier. If the recommendation is accepted, the first day of school would be August 19, 2013.
“I personally feel it is important for our students, families, and employees to be aware of the potential for a calendar change; I understand families make vacation plans months in advance and we don’t want to catch anyone by surprise,” said Dr. John Marschhausen, Loveland superintendent.
Reasons for starting school early are largely based on the fixed dates for many assessments completed by district students. Each day of instruction prior to the test provides Loveland students a greater opportunity for success on the assessment. Assessments with date sensitive timelines include:
• Ohio Achievement Tests (OAA), Grades 3-8
• Advance Placement Tests (AP), Grades 10-12
• College Entrance and Predictor Assessments (ACT, SAT, PSAT, PLAN)
Also used for criteria on scholarship applications
• Student Learning Objective (SLO) criteria as part of teacher evaluation systems.
Furthermore, the current calendar includes two weeks after Memorial Day.
“It is a challenge to keep students focused after Memorial Day,” added Marschhausen. “This proposal would shorten the classroom time post Memorial Day, and add to the August calendar, which is instructionally more valuable.”
Parents and students should be notified about an approved start date by March 31, 2013.
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