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Milwaukee Public Schools trying to change school year start, end dates

Posted at 1:31 PM, Nov 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-18 18:11:42-05
Milwaukee Public Schools announced Friday their plans to change the school year.
 
The district wants to begin classes for all students in August, letting them out in May. They then want to create an additional term- they're calling a "J-Term" in June. Superintendent Darienne Driver said that additional term would allow students to make up work for an entire semester. She said summer school would continue to operate in July.
Driver said the district spends $10 million on students repeating grades. She said that's a significantly higher number than the estimated $3 million the adjusted school year with the J-Term would cost the district. Driver believes the optional J-Term will have interest from families because it's part of the current school timeframe. Teachers would also have the choice to participate in the J-Term, but would be paid additionally for that time.
 
The district needs to ask the State to give them a waiver to start the year early. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction tells TODAY'S TMJ4 the State Superintendent has included a provision to allow Milwaukee Public Schools to start whenever the board decides.
 
That budget has not yet been voted on, but DPI said they support Milwaukee Public Schools in their efforts to change the school year.