Basic Assumptions about LPS Calendars

• The calendars are based on Board of Education values (see Board Policy ICA-E)
• The calendars are continuations of previous calendar committee work, and reflect essentially the same calendar model as currently in place for 2007-2008 and 2008-2009
• The number of instructional days and contract days remains the same as are currently in place
• The calendars presume no fall break
• The calendars reflect continuation of the late start model, providing 10 days of embedded time for professional learning community work, and continuing a district-wide late start schedule as required due to costs
• The calendars reflect the May 2008 Late Start Review Panel recommendations to the Board of Education

Key Points regarding the LPS calendar

• The calendars meet the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) requirements for the number of instructional days
• The student contact days are the same as previous years, with 172 days for elementary and 173 days for secondary, with an effort to approximate an equal number of days for first and second semester; five additional days are included in second semester to factor in CSAP testing for students
• The calendars reflect two critical Board of Education values: that first semester end prior to winter break and that second semester end prior to Memorial Day
• The calendars indicate a three-day Thanksgiving break in lieu of a fall break
• The winter break presumes two full weeks and three weekends
• The calendars reflect a non-student contact day for the Monday following winter break
• No late start day is designated for March due to CSAP testing
• Spring break is placed to allow students to return with one week remaining in the CSAP testing window for make up testing
• The designated late start days are evenly spaced between first and second semesters, five days each
• The designated late start days begin in September to give time for students to become accustomed to the school routine and to give staff an opportunity to begin to know students
• There is no more than one non-student day or modified day scheduled in any given week, to limit instructional interruption and limit family impact, with the exception of parent conferencing dates
• The May late start day is scheduled to allow for wrap up and planning for fall as requested through the Late Start Panel survey responses
• The Board of Education adopted the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 calendars at the January 29, 2009 meeting