Added Instruction Days Frequently Asked Questions
What is SCUSD trying to do by adding these instructional days?
The District and SCTA have agreed on a plan to add eight (8) days to the start of the academic calendar in 2024-25 and 2025-26. If our plan is approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) at their May meeting, the first day of the next school year will be August 19, 2024.
Why is SCUSD doing this?
If approved by SBE, the plan enables the district to provide extra learning time to support the social, emotional, and academic needs of our students.
Additionally, the District would avoid incurring an estimated $39 million* in penalties for not meeting the state’s minimum requirements for instructional days and minutes in the 2021-22 academic year.
The District and SCTA have committed to using all recovered funds to hire additional certificated staff to support students at school.
This agreement also settles several outstanding SCTA grievances and unfair labor practice charges and is a clear sign of improved relations between the District and SCTA.
* Figure has been revised down due to a miscalculation within the original estimate of $47 million.
What is an SBE waiver?
To avoid incurring the penalties for not meeting minimum instructional requirements in 2021-22, the District must apply for a .
Why are you adding 16 total days when only 8 were missed in 2021-22?
As a condition of waiver approval, the District is required to make up the number of instructional days (8) and minutes missed in the 2021-22 academic year for two consecutive school calendars.
What does this mean for students and families?
Pending approval, the start of the school year would be moved up to August 19, 2024 (currently August 29), providing additional instructional time for students to support their social, emotional, and academic needs.
Families and staff are encouraged to start making vacation plans, daycare arrangements and other scheduling adjustments now in anticipation of the earlier start date.
When will we know if this is happening?
We will notify you no later than May 15, 2024 if we will be adding eight (8) days to the start of the 2024-2025 school calendar.
Any changes to the school calendar that occur after May 15th would take effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.