Overview of the APS School Calendar 2023-2024
The APS School Calendar for 2023-2024 runs from August 3, 2023, to May 31, 2024, meeting the state’s 1,140 instructional hours requirement. It includes professional development days, aligning with legislative changes, and maintains consistent holidays across all schools, with variations only in end dates for Transformational Opportunity Pilot Schools (TOPs).
1.1 Key Features of the Approved Calendar
The approved 2023-2024 APS School Calendar begins on August 3, 2023, and ends on May 31, 2024, for traditional schools, with a later June 10, 2024, end date for TOPs schools. It includes seven new professional development days for K-8 teachers, replacing early release Wednesdays, and aligns with the state’s 1,140 instructional hours requirement. Holidays and breaks, such as Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and winter/spring breaks, remain consistent across all schools, ensuring a balanced schedule for students and staff.
1.2 Importance of the Calendar for Students and Parents
The 2023-2024 APS School Calendar is essential for planning, offering clarity on start/end dates, holidays, and professional development days. It helps students maintain consistency in their academic routines and supports parents in scheduling childcare and family activities. The calendar also addresses mental health through extended breaks, ensuring students and staff have adequate rest periods. By aligning with state requirements, it guarantees a structured learning environment, fostering academic success and overall well-being for the APS community.
Key Dates in the 2023-2024 APS Calendar
The 2023-2024 APS Calendar begins on August 3, 2023, with the last day of school on May 31, 2024. Major holidays include Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Thanksgiving, and Memorial Day. Fall Break runs from October 15-18, Winter Break from December 23, 2023, to January 7, 2024, and Spring Break from March 29 to April 1, 2024. Professional development days and parent-teacher conferences are scheduled throughout the year.
2.1 First Day of School
The first day of school for the 2023-2024 academic year is Thursday, August 3, 2023, for students in grades 1-12. Pre-K and Kindergarten students start on Monday, August 7, 2023. Teachers and staff return on Monday, July 31, 2023, for professional development. This earlier start aligns with the legislative requirement of 1,140 instructional hours, ensuring students and staff have a structured beginning to the school year.
2.2 Last Day of School
The last day of school for students on the traditional calendar is Friday, May 31, 2024. Students attending Transformational Opportunity Pilot Schools (TOPs) will conclude their school year on Monday, June 10, 2024. This difference in end dates allows TOPs schools to accommodate their unique instructional needs and professional development schedules, ensuring all students meet the required instructional hours without disrupting their academic progress.
2.3 Major Holidays and Breaks
The 2023-2024 APS calendar includes major holidays such as Labor Day (September 4), Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 9), Thanksgiving Break (November 20-24), Winter Break (December 25-January 5), Spring Break (March 25-29), and Memorial Day (May 27). Extended breaks, like Winter Break (nearly three weeks) and Spring Break (close to two weeks), aim to address mental fatigue and provide students with adequate rest periods between instructional sessions.
2.4 Professional Development Days
The 2023-2024 APS calendar incorporates seven additional professional development days for K-8 teachers, replacing the proposed early release Wednesdays. These days, spread throughout the year, allow teachers to collaborate and enhance instructional strategies without affecting student learning time. High school teachers benefit from built-in professional development within their schedules, ensuring continuous growth and alignment with educational goals. These adjustments support teacher effectiveness while maintaining student instructional hours as required by state legislation.
Proposed Changes to the Calendar
The 2023-2024 APS calendar eliminated early release Wednesdays after public feedback, replacing them with seven professional development days for K-8 teachers to enhance instructional planning and collaboration.
3.1 Early Release Wednesdays: What Was Proposed
The original proposal for the 2023-2024 APS calendar included early release Wednesdays for elementary and middle school students. This initiative aimed to provide teachers with two additional hours of professional development and collaboration time each week. The plan was designed to improve instructional strategies and support student learning by allowing educators to work together more effectively. However, this proposal faced significant opposition from parents and teachers, leading to its eventual removal from the final approved calendar.
3.2 Public Feedback and Revisions
Public feedback played a crucial role in shaping the final APS calendar. Over 7,000 respondents expressed concerns about the proposed early release Wednesdays, citing disruptions to childcare and learning routines. In response, the board removed the early release plan and incorporated seven additional professional development days for teachers. This revision aimed to balance teacher needs with family convenience, ensuring minimal disruption while meeting instructional requirements. The feedback process highlighted the importance of community input in calendar decisions, reflecting a collaborative effort between parents, educators, and district leaders.
Legislative Impact on the Calendar
The 2023-2024 calendar adheres to the state’s 1,140 instructional hours requirement, adding four instructional days and starting earlier to meet legislative standards for improved academic outcomes.
4.1 Instructional Hours Requirement
The 2023-2024 APS School Calendar aligns with the state’s new legislative requirement of 1,140 instructional hours per year, an increase from previous standards. To meet this mandate, the calendar starts earlier, on August 3, 2023, and includes four additional instructional days. This adjustment ensures compliance with the law while maintaining a balanced schedule. The changes aim to enhance academic outcomes by providing more time for student learning and teacher instruction, reflecting a broader effort to improve educational quality across the district.
4.2 Changes in Breaks and Holidays
The 2023-2024 APS School Calendar features adjustments to breaks and holidays, with shorter summer and fall breaks but longer winter and spring breaks. Winter break spans nearly three weeks, while spring break is close to two weeks. Holidays like Indigenous Peoples Day and Election Day remain consistent. These changes aim to address mental fatigue and provide students with more extended periods for rest and recovery, aligning with feedback from the community and legislative requirements.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled in October and March, with specific days off for elementary, middle, and high school students to accommodate these meetings, ensuring alignment with the academic schedule.
5.1 Dates for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools
Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled in October and March. For elementary students, conferences are on October 19-20 and March 25-26. Middle school students attend school on one of these dates, while high school students alternate days off. Specific dates ensure minimal disruption to learning schedules, aligning with the APS calendar requirements.
5.2 Impact on Student Schedules
Parent/Teacher Conferences in October and March result in varied school schedules. Elementary students have full days off during these periods, while middle and high school students experience partial closures. This staggered approach ensures teachers can meet with parents while minimizing academic disruption. The adjustments align with the APS calendar, maintaining instructional priorities and supporting student well-being throughout the school year.
School Start Times and Mental Health
APS is considering later start times for high schools to improve mental health, aligning with research on adolescent sleep needs. Extended breaks aim to reduce mental fatigue.
6.1 Considerations for High School Start Times
APS is exploring later start times for high schools to align with adolescent sleep research, aiming to improve mental health and academic performance. The proposal, supported by the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, focuses on ensuring students get adequate rest. This change could enhance focus, reduce fatigue, and promote emotional well-being. While no final decision has been made, the district is committed to prioritizing student health in its scheduling decisions. The traditional calendar’s earlier start times remain unchanged for now, but adjustments may be implemented in future years.
6.2 Extended Breaks for Mental Fatigue
The 2023-2024 APS calendar introduces longer winter and spring breaks to address mental fatigue. Winter break spans nearly three weeks, while spring break approaches two weeks, aiming to provide students and staff with ample rest. These extended periods align with research on mental health, offering time for relaxation and recharge. The calendar also maintains shorter summer and fall breaks, balancing academic and mental well-being needs. This adjustment reflects APS’s commitment to prioritizing student and staff mental health through strategic scheduling.
Transformational Opportunity Pilot Schools (TOPs)
TOPs schools operate on a modified calendar, ending on June 10, 2024, unlike traditional schools which finish on May 31, 2024. There are 21 elementary TOPs schools.
7.1 Differences in the TOPs Calendar
The TOPs calendar differs primarily in its end date, with students attending until June 10, 2024, compared to the traditional calendar’s May 31, 2024, conclusion. This extension allows for additional instructional time. There are 21 elementary schools operating under the TOPs model. While holidays and breaks align with the traditional calendar, TOPs schools do not include the seven additional professional development days, as their schedules already incorporate built-in professional development time, distinguishing them from other schools in the district.
7.2 List of TOPs Schools
The Transformational Opportunity Pilot Schools (TOPs) include 21 elementary schools: Alamosa, Atrisco, Bel-Air, Bellhaven, Carlos Rey, East San Jose, Emerson, Hawthorne, Inez, Kirtland, Lavaland, Lew Wallace, Longfellow, Los Padillas, Los Ranchos, Lowell, Mary Ann Binford, Matheson Park, Pajarito, Reginald Chavez, and Whittier. Additionally, College and Career High School operates under the TOPs calendar, offering a distinct schedule tailored to its specialized programs and student needs.
Community Feedback and Calendar Development
Community feedback played a crucial role in shaping the 2023-2024 APS Calendar. Over 7,000 responses were collected through a public survey, influencing final decisions on key dates and breaks.
8.1 Role of Public Comment in Shaping the Calendar
Public comment significantly influenced the 2023-2024 APS Calendar. A survey gathered over 7,000 responses, with many expressing concerns about early release Wednesdays and their impact on childcare routines. As a result, the district removed early release Wednesdays for K-8 students, instead adding seven full professional development days. This adjustment aimed to balance teacher needs with family convenience, ensuring the calendar met both educational and community requirements while adhering to the state’s instructional hour mandate.
8.2 Survey Results and Key Concerns
Over 7,000 respondents provided feedback on the proposed 2023-2024 APS Calendar. A significant concern was the impact of early release Wednesdays on childcare and learning continuity. Many parents expressed difficulty in arranging childcare for half-days, while teachers emphasized the need for collaboration time. The district addressed these concerns by removing early release Wednesdays and incorporating seven full professional development days, balancing teacher needs with family schedules. This adjustment reflected the community’s priorities and ensured the calendar aligned with both educational goals and practical realities.
Comparing Traditional and TOPs Calendars
The traditional calendar ends on May 31, 2024, while TOPs schools conclude on June 10, 2024. TOPs schools integrate professional development into their schedule, unlike traditional schools.
9.1 Similarities in Holidays and Breaks
Both traditional and TOPs calendars share identical holidays and breaks, including Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break, Memorial Day, and Juneteenth. These shared dates ensure consistency for families across all schools. Breaks like Fall Break and Spring Break align in duration and timing, providing uniformity. Holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day are also observed uniformly. This alignment helps maintain a consistent academic rhythm and scheduling for extracurricular activities district-wide.
9.2 Differences in End Dates
The traditional calendar concludes on Friday, May 31, 2024, while Transformational Opportunity Pilot Schools (TOPs) operate until Monday, June 10, 2024. This 10-day difference accommodates additional instructional days for TOPs schools. Both calendars align on holidays and breaks but diverge in their end dates due to varying instructional needs and professional development structures, ensuring each calendar type meets specific educational goals while maintaining district-wide consistency in major observances and scheduling. This distinction is designed to support the unique requirements of each school community.
Accessing the APS Calendar
The 2023-2024 APS Calendar is available for download as a PDF on the official APS website. Users can also sync it with digital calendars for easy updates.
10.1 Downloading the PDF Version
Visit the APS website to download the 2023-2024 PDF calendar. It provides a comprehensive view of the school year, including holidays, professional development days, and key dates. The PDF version is optimized for printing and easy sharing, ensuring families and staff can plan effectively. Users can access this document directly from the APS Calendar Downloads section, making it convenient to stay informed about important academic schedules and events throughout the year.
10.2 Tools for Staying Updated
The APS website provides tools to stay informed about the 2023-2024 calendar. Users can subscribe to RSS feeds or email newsletters for updates on important dates and changes. Additionally, the district offers a mobile app and social media updates to keep the community informed. Families can also use digital calendars to sync school events with personal schedules. These tools ensure everyone stays connected and informed throughout the academic year. Visit the APS website to explore these resources and stay up-to-date on all calendar-related information.
Future Calendars and Planning
The 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 calendars are already being developed, with draft versions expected soon. Families can access future calendars on the APS website under the “Calendars” section.
11.1 Availability of 2024-2025 and Beyond
The 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 calendars are currently in development, with draft versions expected to be released in late 2024. These calendars will align with state instructional hour requirements and incorporate feedback from stakeholders. Families can access future calendars on the APS website under the “Calendars” section. The district will also notify parents and staff via email and school websites when the new calendars are finalized. This ensures everyone stays informed and prepared for upcoming school years.
11.2 How to Stay Informed
Stay updated on the APS School Calendar by visiting the official APS website, where the PDF version is available for download. Follow APS on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter for regular updates and reminders. Additionally, parents and staff can sign up for email newsletters to receive important calendar notifications. The district also provides a detailed Student Service Center contact for inquiries. By leveraging these resources, families and staff can remain informed about key dates and updates throughout the school year.