(Rochester, N.Y.) – Rochester Preparatory Charter School is in its second week of classes.
The city charter school likely has the longest day – 8 hours – and school year – 195 days – of any school in the area.
“The more time you have to prepare children and get them ready for college, the better,” said Stacey Shells.
A lot of the students previously attended regular public schools.
“I felt like I had a lot of days off, a plethora of days off,” said 7th-grader Davida Hawkes.
A check of the calendar and you see what she means.
Rochester City Schools have just one four-week stretch the entire school year without any days off. Suburban district range from three to six full weeks of classes without a day off. City schools are among a handful of county schools that opted for a two-week winter break.
“If you ask me, our kids need school more days. Two-week vacation at Christmas was something that really was done painfully,” said Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard.
The RCSD’s calendar is very similar to suburban districts. But Brizard said city children need more time in class, given the low graduation rate and test scores. The district currently offers extended-day and Saturday programs to some students.
Brizard will bring up a longer school year during contract negotiations with the Rochester Teachers Association. The union opposes a mandatory longer school year.
“Not all kids need more time, therefore we don't need all the teachers to teach longer,” said union chief Adam Urbanski.
This school year, the RCSD scheduled 181 days of class, one day more than the state requires. Mandated state holidays and the teachers contract kept the district from adding days.
“If I have my way, I would like to see kids in school longer. It is something that really worries us,” Brizard said.
Rochester Prep credits a longer school year with helping achieve test scores above the city schools. As a charter school, Rochester Prep has a lot more freedom in scheduling the school year.
“Now I have a challenge because I have to stay in school longer than the other kids,” said 7th-grader Maurice Ragland.
