Vacation Calendar Changes For Dade, Broward Public Schools
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- School may not be over yet but if you're already planning your next winter break around your children's school schedule -- stop!
Vacation dates have changed for South Florida public schools beginning next year and it has caught parents off guard.
"I wasn't aware of it before but it's good to know in advance," said parent Matt Weinshall.
For the 2016-17 school year in Dade and Broward County, the last day of school before the winter break is now Friday, December 23rd with kids returning back to school Monday, January 9th.
"It makes sense, it's always hard to get the family back in gear after New Year's," said Ariel Rodriguez, a father of four who admits planning ahead with the kiddos is key. "For planning purposes, yeah, definitely a lot of it depends when the kids are out of school."
And for spring break, these dates have also changed next year -- it's in April, from Monday the 10th to Friday, April 14.
The Dade and Broward school board said there are several reasons for the change, including testing.
But while the board may have the students' best interest in mind with the changes, it's the parents who are left to readjust their lives.
"I have to plan accordingly with my job. It always goes back and forth, depending on what the kids have in between," said Marisol Garcia.
The amount of vacation days do remain the same.
The first day of school begins August 22nd.