Summer break will be one week shorter for students in Collier County in 2016.
That's because the school board voted to move the start date for the 2016-2017 year up a week to August 10th. Classes started August 17th this year.
Florida law prohibits classes from starting any earlier than August 10th. Classes will end May 31st, 2017.
Winter break will start December 21st, rather than December 19th and end January 3rd, and there will be 6 early release days next year instead of 7.
The board also gave students and faculty a full day off for Rosh Hashanah. The Jewish Holiday is one of the most important of the year.
"Children will no longer have to face the challenge of choosing between going to school and feeling pressured to keep up with their school work, versus being able to connect with their faith identity," said Rabbi Adam Miller of Temple Shalom congregation.
Jewish leaders had pushed for the change over the past several years. Parents mounted a social media campaign Sunday when they first became aware the school board may vote on changing the calendar.
"We ended up starting an email and Facebook campaign so to speak, and forwarding it and reposting it, and a lot of people started responding," said parent Stacy Nicolau.
Yom Kippur, another Jewish Holiday occurs during the three day fall break.
