Schools
DeKalb School Board Shortens Summer Break for Next School Year
A new balanced schedule will begin next fall in the district, shortening summer break by two weeks to promote student learning.
DeKalb County schools will change schedules next fall to shorten the summer break and adopt a so-called "balanced" schedule, a move supported by most teachers but not popular with parents, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The discussion about changing the school schedules started this year and was delayed as the district attempted to gather more information after a backlash from parents.
The school board voted 6-2 Monday in favor of the new calendar. The new schedule will shortener summer break by two weeks and build those vacation days into fall and winter.
Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson has said students forget too much of the instruction during a traditional summer break. School will start Aug. 5 instead of Aug. 12 and will end May 29 instead of May 23, according to the report.
A three-day fall break will be added Oct. 7 and Oct. 9 and a four-day winter break from Feb. 18 to Feb. 21, which will be added to Presidents' Day.
Nearly 60 percent of parents favored keeping the traditional school calendar.
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