School System Calendar for 2013-14 Approved

The Barrow County Board of Education has approved a calender for its 2013-14 school year, increasing the number of school days from 160 for the current school year to 170 days. 

The school system shared the following information in an informational post on the approved calendar:

The increase of 10 instructional days is based on the feedback we have received since beginning school this year from our stakeholders that the compressed 160 day calendar seems to be stressful and rushed for students and teachers. The implementation of the new Common Core Standards has increased the level of rigor required in our teaching and learning.

Students will head back to school following summer break on Aug. 7. The last day of school is May 15, 2014. 

Student holidays include the following, along with scheduled teacher planning days:

• Sept. 2: Labor Day
• Oct. 4 — Teacher planning day 
• Oct. 14: Columbus Day
• Oct. 15-18: Fall break 
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day
• Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving 
• Dec. 23-Jan. 6, 2014: Winter break 
• Jan. 20, 2014: Martin Luther King Jr. holiday 
• Feb. 17, 2014: President's Day 
• March 7, 2014: Teacher planning day 
• April 14-18, 2014: Spring break 

According to information provided by the school system, middle and high school students will continue to start their school days before elementary students. 

"We are currently testing transportation routing options to determine exact beginning and ending times for all grade levels and schools," the information reads. "Our goal is to be able to shorten the day for students and specifically get our elementary children home earlier in the afternoon." 

Click here to read more. 

Tell us what you think about this school calendar in the comments section below. 

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