2020 School Start Date

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In the fall of each year, the Falls Church School Board reviews proposed changes in the school calendar for the coming year. This year, those changes can include moving the first day of school earlier in the calendar year.

Effective July 1, 2019, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing school divisions to start the school year up to 14 days before the September Labor Day holiday. So in addition to deciding the dates of Winter and Spring Breaks, professional development days, graduation and the like, this year the School Board can make adjustments to the Start Date.

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December 17, 2019 - School Board Work Session

School Board Votes to Begin School Aug 24th in '20

The Falls Church School Board has set the first day of school for the 2020-21 school year for August 24th, or two weeks before Labor Day. On a 4-2 vote, the Board adopted the Ad Hoc Calendar Committee's Pre-Labor Day Option B which includes a two-week winter break and a last day of school set for June 10th.

The vote follows last week's recommendation of the option from Superintendent Peter Noonan reflecting the work of an Ad Hoc Committee and a two month series of public comment opportunities, and community engagement sessions and survey.

Effective July 1, 2019, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing school divisions to start the school year up to 14 days before the September Labor Day holiday. So in addition to deciding the dates of Winter and Spring Breaks, professional development days, graduation and the like, this year the School Board was able to make adjustments to the Start Date.

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December 10, 2019 - School Board Regular Session

School Board Receives Calendar Survey Results

With 1,240 responses received, the Falls Church School Board began reviewing the results of the two-week-long 2020-2021 Calendar Survey Tuesday night. Pre-Labor Day Option B received the most overall support. The option starts school on August 24th, includes a 2-week winter break, and ends school on June 10th. The option also received the support of nearly 3 out of 4 FCCPS staff members who took the survey. Citing the equity benefit of the additional instructional days before assessments the option provides, Superintendent Peter Noonan also recommended the Pre-Labor Day Option B to the board. A final vote on the calendar is scheduled for next Tuesday, December 17th.

Calendar Survey Results Presentation slides

Four Calendar Options Under Consideration

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November 19, 2019 - School Board Work Session

Superintendent Peter Noonan presented an update on the 2020-21 Calendar selection process.

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November 14, 2019 - Community Outreach Meeting #2

Superintendent Peter Noonan and Chief Academic Officer William Bates presented the Ad Hoc Committee's four calendar options for the 2020-21 School Year.

Following a brief presentation, questions from the six people who attended were answered and have been added to the FAQ area of this webpage

Below is the video of the event, and the Presentation slides.

Presentation Slides

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November 12, 2019 - School Board Regular Session

The Falls Church School Board received four options for the 2020-21 school calendar from its Ad Hoc Calendar Committee during its regular meeting last night. 

The options include two that would see school opening two weeks before Labor Day and two with the first day of school on the day after Labor Day. The Virginia General Assembly last year changed the law allowing school systems to open up to fourteen days before Labor Day.

Tomorrow night, November 14th, there will be Community Outreach Meeting in the GMHS Mustang Cafe at 6:30 p.m. There will be a presentation of the four options and answers to questions from the public. 

On Friday, a public survey will open for two weeks on the four alternatives, with survey results published on December 5th. 

The School Board votes next year's calendar on December 17th.

School Board's Four Calendar Options

Summary of Calendar Option Differences

Calendar Options Presentation Slides

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October 15, 2019 - School Board Work Session

As work begins in earnest on the 2020-21 School Calendar, the Falls Church School Board received a briefing from Superintendent Peter J. Noonan.  Included was information on how calendars are created, an explanation of the new Virginia legislation affecting calendar's going forward, and the engagement plan for public comment going forward.

Work Session Presentation Slides

2020-21 Holidays and Major Observances

2020-21 Month by Month Known Days

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September 17, 2019 - School Board Work Session

The School Board opened the annual school calendar discussion on Tuesday. This is the first year that FCCPS has the option to start before Labor Day. The calendar development process was reviewed and initial questions raised.