APS decides not to offer alternative calendar for 2021-22 school year

Albuquerque Public Schools will not offer the alternative calendar next school year. Late last year, staff from the handful of elementary schools in the district that have an earlier start day, with intersessions in the fall and spring, pushed for the schedule. And the board said it would revisit the issue.

But after being presented with costs, and student academic and transfer data, the board made the call to maintain its initial decision to put most schools on a traditional calendar, which starts classes for the 2021-22 school year on Aug. 11, 2021, and ends them on May 25, 2022. Some schools will use an extended school year that adds days in the classroom.

The decision can be readdressed, if needed, and may be altered depending on legislative shifts.

IN WITH THE OLD, OUT WITH THE SECRETARY:

Speaking of the APS Board of Education, it is maintaining the status quo of responsibilities this year. Members recently decided that officer positions — such as the president of the board and committee chairs — would remain the same.

APS.edu spells out the seven members’ roles and terms.

But that wasn’t the case at the federal level. Betsy DeVos has resigned her post leading the U.S. Department of Education and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten had this to say: “Good riddance.”

SOARING HIGH: Two APS students were selected for prestigious Air Force Junior ROTC Flight Academy scholarships.

Juniors Veronica Bearup of Del Norte High School and nex+Gen Academy High School, and Luke Vaughn of Volcano Vista High School were among 230 students worldwide to receive the honor, according to APS.

“Cadets Bearup and Vaughn will attend an accredited aviation university participating in a private pilot license training program this summer,” the district said in an announcement.

Over 1,000 JROTC cadets applied. The scholarship covers room and board, academics and more, and is valued at about $22,500.

MORE ACCOUNTED FOR:

The New Mexico Public Education Department and other agencies have found 7,547 of the more than 12,000 students who were off the public school books.

The state has been trying to keep tabs on kids who enrolled in public schools last spring, but weren’t there in the fall. Turns out some students were enrolled at other schools, such as private schools, or were being home-schooled.

Efforts continue as 4,639 students are still unaccounted for.