Proposed 2020-2021 school calendar strategically places breaks to fight absenteeism

MADISON – The Madison City school board reviewed a draft version of the calendar for the 2020-2021 school year last week. School officials hope the proposed calendar will help fight absenteeism.

“A committee of administrators, central office personnel, teachers and parents drafted the calendar based on the following recommendations from the state superintendent of education: 180 instructional days for students and include at least one weather day,” said Dorinda White, the attendance coordinator for the school district.

The calendar is very similar to those of Huntsville City Schools and Madison County Schools. Students will start school Aug. 5. The fall break is set for Oct, 5-9. There will be an entire week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, and two entire weeks off during the winter break for teachers and students.

During the second semester the calendar is different from the other two systems with an earlier spring break falling on March 15-19.

Other holidays include Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, and Presidents’ Day.

Students will have a minimum of one three-day holiday weekend each month.

“With the state assessing absenteeism on the state report card, the new calendar would afford families five different opportunities to take week long vacations during the school year without the need to miss any instructional days,” White said.

A draft copy of the calendar can be found on the Madison City Schools website at www.madisoncity.k12.al.us. Comments about the proposed calendar may be sent to Dorinda White at dcwhite@madisoncity.k12.al.us.