A local advocacy group is pressing Arlington Public Schools’ leaders to have students in class five days per week on a more frequent basis.
“APS’ own attendance policy highlights that ‘missing just two days a month can negatively impact learning,’ yet the district’s calendars routinely miss multiple days of instruction per month,” Arlington Parents for Education (APE) said in a recent newsletter.
“Instructional days are reduced during formal calendar planning, and even more are lost during the year,” the organization said, noting the 3-2 School Board vote last month to close schools on April 21 for the statewide redistricting referendum.
According to APE:
“This year Arlington Public Schools only have 15 full five-day weeks (using elementary as the baseline) between the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year (43 weeks). That means only 35% of APS’s school weeks are full five-day weeks. From Sept. 19 to Nov. 17, APS students went nearly two full months without a single five-day week, just as students were trying to settle into their new routines and learn.”
ARLnow checked in with several former School Board members to get their take on the concerns being raised.
One who responded, Barbara Kanninen — who supports the concept of year-round school calendars to avoid lengthy summer breaks — said not having students in class all five weekdays probably isn’t the most pressing concern.
“The total number of instructional days are going to stay the same,” she said. “So, if you increase the number of five-day weeks, you reduce the total number of weeks and, presumably, lengthen summer. I kind of like sneaky ways to increase the length of the school year, so I prefer 43 weeks to 42 or 41.”
In a recent unscientific ARLnow reader poll, just over three-fourths of some 2,000 respondents supported APS removing some off days from the calendar.
In other school-system news:
School Board to salute 2026 ‘Honored Citizens’: School Board members this week will honor five residents selected as “Honored Citizens” for 2026.
The awards program dates back to 1975, and is designed to honor volunteers who have supported the school system for at least five years.
Dot Green, Dr. Stuart Jessup, Jenny Roahen Rizzo, Janet Sater and Geovanna Sejas are the 2026 recipients.
According to school officials: “Through their volunteer work, the following individuals support the APS Strategic Goals of providing multiple pathways to success for students, ensuring that students are healthy, safe and supported, and building and maintaining strong and mutually supportive partnerships.”
The honorees will be recognized at the School Board meeting this Thursday, April 30. A reception in their honor will begin at 6:15 p.m., followed by formal recognition at the meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
Principal completes requirements for state honor: Liza Broughman Aldana, principal at Claremont Immersion Elementary School, has been completed requirements and been confirmed as a 2025-26 Principal of Distinction by the Virginia Department of Education.
Honorees were announced last summer, and spent ensuing months engaged in professional-development activities to demonstrate strong leadership in student achievement, instructional practices and school culture, staff education officials said in announcing the recipients.
The awards program is a partnership between the Virginia Department of Education,Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals and the Virginia Board of Education.
“This year’s Principals of Distinction are delivering on what high expectations and excellence looks like for every student,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway said. “These individuals are leading the way to provide high quality education and supports for every student.”
“This class of Principals of Distinction is truly inspiring,” added Virginia Board of Education president Mashea Ashton. “With innovative leadership represented in improving instructional outcomes and building strong culture, it is clear that Virginia has great schools.”
Former School Board member honored: EcoAction Arlington on April 23 honored former School Board member Mary Kadera with its 2026 Impact Award for her contributions to environmental sustainability.
The award was presented at the environmental group’s eighth annual EcoExtravaganza, held at Clare & Don’s Beach Shack in Falls Church.
Kadera served on the School Board from 2022-25, chairing it from mid-2024 to mid-2025.
“Mary brought passion to her role and led the school community in meeting key goals for a sustainable future,” said Levi Novey, Chair of the EcoAction Arlington board of directors.
The organization said Kadera’s leadership included:
- Championing a Climate Action Resolution to align schools with the county’s 2050 carbon-neutrality goal
- Ensuring sustainability goals were embedded directly into the 2024–2030 Strategic Plan
- Supporting the transition to a fully electrified bus and vehicle fleet and pushed for higher building energy efficiency
- Promoting zero-waste initiatives, specifically focusing on composting and reducing food waste within schools
“Achieving our goal of a sustainable community requires the commitment of amazing civic leaders like Mary Kadera,” Novey said.
Students head to Governor’s Schools: Thirty Arlington Public Schools students have been invited to participate in Virginia’s 2026 Summer World Languages Academies and Residential Governor’s School Programs.
The summertime programs provide rising juniors and seniors with immersive academic experiences, which include opportunities for academics, mentorship, and visual and performing arts.
World Language Academies include full-immersion programs in French, German, and Spanish, plus a partial-immersion Japanese Academy and a Latin Academy.
Other Summer Residential Governor’s Schools focus on areas such as visual and performing arts, the humanities, medicine and health sciences, mathematics, science, and technology, and mentorships in marine science or engineering.
Wakefield, Washington-Liberty and Yorktown high schools and H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program each will have representation in the summer programs.
