Here’s the latest calendar news for GCPS students and staff…
Calendar for 2021-22 now available
Looking ahead to the coming school year, district leaders and the School Board reviewed the 2021-22 calendar at the Nov. 19 Board meeting.
This approved calendar features a start date of Aug. 4, seven days of pre-planning for teachers, the staggered return of students, and six digital learning days. The six digital learning days are scheduled throughout the year, with three occurring in 1st semester and three in 2nd semester. Next year’s calendar also features a fall break in October, a two-week winter break, the addition of a break in February, a week scheduled for spring break, and an end date of May 25.
District shares calendar changes for spring
Teachers will have more time and resources for planning instruction this spring as they work to support both in-person and digital learning for their students. At the Nov. 19 School Board meeting, district leaders shared two changes to the calendar for 2nd semester.
The calendar now calls for students to return to learning (in the classroom or online) on Thursday, Jan. 7, a day later than originally planned. Teachers will participate in planning/staff development on two days—Jan. 5 and 6—before classes begin. This change will give teachers an extra day for planning and staff development.
In another calendar change designed to extend planning opportunities for teachers, four days in the spring—Jan. 26, March 2, March 16, and April 20—have been designated as Digital Learning Days (DLD). On these school days, all students, both in-person and digital learners, will learn at home. Learning will be asynchronous, meaning that students will not have a scheduled log-in time or planned “Zoom” session. Instead, they will complete assigned work at their own pace. Students who are unable to complete assignments on DLDs will be given the opportunity to complete assignments when they return to school.
On Jan. 6 and on the four Digital Learning Days in the spring, GCPS will provide meals for curbside pick-up at schools and will deliver along all middle school bus routes countywide.