Earlier Start To School Year In Philly? Survey Yields Mixed Response
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The School District of Philadelphia has wrapped up a survey on its proposal for an earlier start to the academic year.
At the center of the school calendar debate was whether Philadelphia should join surrounding districts and start its school year before Labor Day.
The teachers union president had expressed concerns about starting school in the August heat. The district held an online survey to find out what parents and teachers thought. Superintendent William Hite says opinions appeared to be split.
"It was kind of mixed on that. Some preferred to, others preferred not to," Hite said. "But the one thing that was consistent was the conversation about spring break."
Hite says respondents wanted a longer break than one or two days on either side of Easter weekend.
He says nothing in the survey results would lead him to change his recommendation to the School Reform Commission, which votes on the 2018 and 2019 calendars next Thursday.