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Decatur City Schools calendar for the 2021-22 school year includes an earlier than normal Aug. 5 start date to minimize academic backsliding and the district s first weeklong fall break.
Superintendent Michael Douglas said at Tuesday s board meeting where the calendar was approved that the earlier start date will create a shorter summer break to prevent âsummer slide,â or loss of academic progress over the summer.
âThe rationale for starting earlier was due to the COVID pandemic. We wanted a little bit shorter summer so we could get kids back in school,â Douglas said.
The district is still anticipating a high number of students enrolling in summer school this year, he said.