SCUSD could start school year earlier to make up for lost instructional time, save from hefty fine

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Students in the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) could be starting school earlier this fall.

Earlier in March, the district and the Sacramento City Teachers Association agreed to a learning recovery plan that would add 16 more days over the course of two academic years, or an additional eight days in each year.

SCUSD Board of Trustees approved the waiver request during its March 21 meeting. Now that it's approved, the request will be voted on by the State Board of Education.

Should the board approve the plan BEFORE May 15, then school would start in the district on August 19, 2024.

• The 16 additional days would be: Aug. 19-23, 2024; Aug. 26-28, 2024; Aug. 18-22, 2025; and Aug. 25-27, 2025.

If the board approves the plan AFTER May 15, then the first day of school would remain August 29, 2024.

• In this case, the 16 additional days would be: Aug. 18-22, 2025; Aug. 25-27, 2025; Aug. 17-21, 2026; and Aug. 24-26, 2026.

The district says the plan is an opportunity for the SCUSD to avoid $47 million in penalties for not meeting the required number of instructional days and minutes in the 2021-2022 school year.

Many parents ABC10 spoke to Wednesday didn't like the options presented. 

“I just do not think that is fair,” said Victoria Vasquez, a SCUSD parent.

“It is disappointing to hear,” said Laila Brown, a SCUSD parent

Parents aren't happy district leaders are thinking about adding a total of 16 additional days between 2024 and 2026.

It comes as the district tries to make up for lost time as campus life in 2022 came to a halt after an eight-day strike by the Sacramento City Teachers Association demanding higher wages among other demands.

“The time lost during the strike was time lost at that time,” said Vasquez.” And I do not know how valuable it is to add extra lessons from the classes they will have next year.”

Parents like Brown believe it will be a negative impact to make a long year longer, not have enough break in between and force summer traditions to change.

“We really have to start thinking about the children and the family, and how it is going to affect them rather than just budgetary, budgetary,” said Brown.

The school district says in meeting documents, the earmarked penalty money will be used to improve the classroom.

You can read the entire settlement agreement between the district and Sacramento City Teachers Association HERE.

WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Sacramento teacher strike is over, students heading back to school