Virginia Beach Schools Extend Class Time, Drawing Educator Concerns

Teachers and parents raise issues over scheduling conflicts and added stress for students and staff.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:53pm

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A hazy, impressionistic scene of students walking through a school hallway, with soft, warm light and color creating a dreamlike, atmospheric quality that captures the disruption and uncertainty surrounding the extended school schedule.The extended school schedule in Virginia Beach has created scheduling challenges and added stress for students, families, and teachers at the end of the academic year.Virginia Beach Today

Students in Virginia Beach, Virginia will face longer school days starting April 13 after the school district added 10 minutes to each school day through June 8 to make up for a planned closure on April 21 for a special election. The change has drawn criticism from teachers and parents who say it creates scheduling challenges and added stress late in the school year.

Why it matters

The extended school schedule is impacting families, students, and teachers across the Virginia Beach school district, raising concerns about disruptions to after-school jobs, activities, and exam preparations during an already demanding time of year.

The details

Beginning April 13, 10 minutes will be added to each school day through June 8 to make up for a planned closure on April 21 for a special election. The change has drawn criticism from teachers and parents who say it creates scheduling challenges and added stress late in the school year. High school students who work after school could arrive late to their jobs, and some parents are worried about disruptions to scheduled activities such as therapy appointments and sports practices. Teachers already working to prepare students for SOL exams say the change adds pressure during an already demanding time.

  • Students in Virginia Beach are currently on spring break.
  • The extended school schedule will begin on April 13.
  • The school district is scheduled to be closed on April 21 for a special election.

The players

Robin Gardner

Representative with the Virginia Beach Education Association who has heard concerns from families and staff across the division about the extended school schedule.

Matt Cummings

School Board member who introduced a motion to suspend board policy and shift from counting school days to counting instructional hours, but the motion did not receive the required supermajority vote to move forward.

Kathleen Brown

School Board Chair who stated that a policy change to shift from counting school days to counting instructional hours would require unanimous approval, which she did not think the board would be able to accomplish in time.

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What they’re saying

“It's impacting everyone. It's just complete chaos.”

— Robin Gardner, Representative, Virginia Beach Education Association

“It's like a teacher told me this morning — it's the straw that broke the camel's back.”

— Robin Gardner, Representative, Virginia Beach Education Association

“We would actually need to have a unanimous vote on that because it would be a suspension of policy per bylaw 132D. So I don't think we'll be able to accomplish that in this meeting.”

— Kathleen Brown, School Board Chair

What’s next

The School Board's next scheduled meeting is April 14, one day after the longer school days are set to begin. Supporters are urging the board to hold a special meeting before spring break ends to reconsider the decision.

The takeaway

The extended school schedule in Virginia Beach has created significant disruption and stress for students, families, and teachers, highlighting the challenges districts face in balancing instructional time requirements with the real-world needs of the community. As school boards navigate these difficult decisions, open communication and flexibility will be key to finding solutions that work for all stakeholders.