In 2012, the LCUSD Governing Board and Superintendent began discussions regarding the shifting of the school calendar two to three weeks earlier, to start school in early/mid-August and end around Memorial Day. Many people fought this change (we fought hard!) and the Board agreed to survey all LCUSD parents. The results were 52% for and 48% against, so the calendar changed. (There are no numbers available on how many LCUSD parents actually took the survey.)
Many LCUSD parents are now unhappy with the early start date and want to restore the academic calendar to start late-August/early-September. Why? Early-Mid/August in La Canada is HOT! The Board added two weeks of classroom time during miserably hot conditions (especially dangerous for our fall athletes and band members), upset annual vacation plans for many La Canada families, and now semester final exams conflict with December holiday celebrations.
In 2012, the Board argued that the earlier start date would give 10 extra days of instruction before the AP tests which would (1) improve "high stakes" test scores, and (2) lighten the rigorous pace of AP classes so that more kids would take those classes. However, there was no research provided to prove that 10 additional instructional days in August would make a difference on tests taken in May.
The Board's other argument was that ending the semester before the winter holiday would be beneficial to students, when in fact, research shows that when final exams are in January, the post-holiday subject review significantly improves long-term retention of the material learned in the fall.
There are many other reasons that this change has been detrimental to our kids and to LCUSD families. Too many to go into in this short space. But, we are hearing it everywhere around town -- the grocery store, PTA meetings, Music in the Park. Starting school in early/mid-August is NOT right for La Canada.
Please SIGN and let the LCUSD Governing Board know that we want the calendar changed back so that school starts no earlier than the week before Labor Day. Give our kids back their summer. They work hard and deserve it!
