School board approves school schedule

The Fairfax County School Board approved a master calendar for the 2014-15 school year at its July 24 meeting that reduces the number of school days from 183 to 180.

Last month the school board eliminated early Monday dismissal for elementary school students. Additional changes in the calendar allow FCPS to comply with the state requirement for 990 hours of instruction. The school system won’t need to make up inclement weather days at the end of the school year if schools are closed fewer than 13 days.

Here are the major changes:

• The 2014-15 school year will start on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and end on Friday, June 19.
• Winter break will be Dec. 22-Jan. 2. Spring break will be March 20-April 3.
• There will be four strategic planning days for teachers, on Sept. 29, Feb. 2, March 16, and April 6. Students will be off on those days. April 6 is immediately after spring break.
• Students will be dismissed two hours early on the last day of the quarter, the day before Thanksgiving break and winter break, and the last day of school.