Please hold spring break in April annually starting in 2027 no matter when Easter occurs

[Anonymous]

One of the weird things with Maryland school calendars is when spring break occurs as it doesn't happen at the same point each year but borders Easter. In 2026 Easter two weeks earlier than 2025 but MoCo and PGCo still chose the week before Easter as spring break. In 2027 Easter is SUPER early so the break should not be the week before Easter. The best thing would be to hold the break either April 5-9 or April 12-16 as long as there is at least 1 fewer holiday off in 2026-27 than 2025-26 to offset the extra day needed by not bordering Easter.
Spring break should NOT be held before the 3rd quarter is over! This post is being made because some DC teachers that live in MoCo or PGCo inflated the responses on to hold spring break based on MoCo and PGC so DC which usually holds spring break in April randomly put it on MARCH 22-26, 2027 despite that MoCo and PGCo have yet to post a 2026-27 calendar.
All three districts MoCo, PGCo and DC need to agree to hold spring break 2027 in the 1st or 2nd full week of April AFTER all 3 have ended the 3rd quarter.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure the MCPS leadership will see your post and act accordingly.

[Anonymous]

You would need to change state law, which requires that Good Friday and Easter Monday be system closures.

We are a state founded by Catholics! Have some respect for history.

[Anonymous]

I disagree. I hate having spring break so late. Spring break should be in March, not late April. It’s practically the end of the year by the time it comes along. Weather is already warm so getting away doesn’t feel so necessary and ski season is over at most places.

It should not be tied to Easter. I’d rather be home for Easter and I bet many Jews would also prefer to be home for Passover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. I hate having spring break so late. Spring break should be in March, not late April. It’s practically the end of the year by the time it comes along. Weather is already warm so getting away doesn’t feel so necessary and ski season is over at most places.

It should not be tied to Easter. I’d rather be home for Easter and I bet many Jews would also prefer to be home for Passover.

Many Jews vacation for Passover so that someone else does all of work of cleaning and preparing kosher for Passover meals. There are resorts that specialize in this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. I hate having spring break so late. Spring break should be in March, not late April. It’s practically the end of the year by the time it comes along. Weather is already warm so getting away doesn’t feel so necessary and ski season is over at most places.

It should not be tied to Easter. I’d rather be home for Easter and I bet many Jews would also prefer to be home for Passover.

I agree completely - hate having a late spring break. Yes, state law requires Easter Monday. But nothing requires spring break to be tied to Easter. Would love to have a mid-March break instead.

[Anonymous]

As a MCPS teacher, I would prefer it continue to be linked to state mandated closures of Good Friday and Easter Monday. I’d be happy to have it fall before or after Easter.

Minimizing interruptions is key. A single 8 day break for Spring Break + Easter is less disruptive than a 5 day break for Spring Break followed at some point by a four day weekend for Easter.

[Anonymous]

I emailed my state reps once asking them to change this law because I hate that spring break moves around so much but they ignored me and now my kids are older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a MCPS teacher, I would prefer it continue to be linked to state mandated closures of Good Friday and Easter Monday. I’d be happy to have it fall before or after Easter.

Minimizing interruptions is key. A single 8 day break for Spring Break + Easter is less disruptive than a 5 day break for Spring Break followed at some point by a four day weekend for Easter.

I agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the weird things with Maryland school calendars is when spring break occurs as it doesn't happen at the same point each year but borders Easter. In 2026 Easter two weeks earlier than 2025 but MoCo and PGCo still chose the week before Easter as spring break. In 2027 Easter is SUPER early so the break should not be the week before Easter. The best thing would be to hold the break either April 5-9 or April 12-16 as long as there is at least 1 fewer holiday off in 2026-27 than 2025-26 to offset the extra day needed by not bordering Easter.
Spring break should NOT be held before the 3rd quarter is over! This post is being made because some DC teachers that live in MoCo or PGCo inflated the responses on to hold spring break based on MoCo and PGC so DC which usually holds spring break in April randomly put it on MARCH 22-26, 2027 despite that MoCo and PGCo have yet to post a 2026-27 calendar.
All three districts MoCo, PGCo and DC need to agree to hold spring break 2027 in the 1st or 2nd full week of April AFTER all 3 have ended the 3rd quarter.

OP, did you serve on the MCPS Calendar Advisory Group? If not, reach out to Cat Malchodi. I'm sure you can be added.

[Anonymous]

Who do you think you are that we would have any concern for your spring break plans?

It’s not coincidence that MD public schools tie spring break to Easter; it’s done intentionally. The fact that DCPS teachers can’t afford to live in DC is a DC problem that’s not MD’s to solve. Coordinating DCPS’s spring break with surrounding districts is a cheap, easy way for DCPS to attract and retain teachers and guarantee adequate staffing around a major holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the weird things with Maryland school calendars is when spring break occurs as it doesn't happen at the same point each year but borders Easter. In 2026 Easter two weeks earlier than 2025 but MoCo and PGCo still chose the week before Easter as spring break. In 2027 Easter is SUPER early so the break should not be the week before Easter. The best thing would be to hold the break either April 5-9 or April 12-16 as long as there is at least 1 fewer holiday off in 2026-27 than 2025-26 to offset the extra day needed by not bordering Easter.
Spring break should NOT be held before the 3rd quarter is over! This post is being made because some DC teachers that live in MoCo or PGCo inflated the responses on to hold spring break based on MoCo and PGC so DC which usually holds spring break in April randomly put it on MARCH 22-26, 2027 despite that MoCo and PGCo have yet to post a 2026-27 calendar.
All three districts MoCo, PGCo and DC need to agree to hold spring break 2027 in the 1st or 2nd full week of April AFTER all 3 have ended the 3rd quarter.

OP, did you serve on the MCPS Calendar Advisory Group? If not, reach out to Cat Malchodi. I'm sure you can be added.

Can a DC resident serve on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the weird things with Maryland school calendars is when spring break occurs as it doesn't happen at the same point each year but borders Easter. In 2026 Easter two weeks earlier than 2025 but MoCo and PGCo still chose the week before Easter as spring break. In 2027 Easter is SUPER early so the break should not be the week before Easter. The best thing would be to hold the break either April 5-9 or April 12-16 as long as there is at least 1 fewer holiday off in 2026-27 than 2025-26 to offset the extra day needed by not bordering Easter.
Spring break should NOT be held before the 3rd quarter is over! This post is being made because some DC teachers that live in MoCo or PGCo inflated the responses on to hold spring break based on MoCo and PGC so DC which usually holds spring break in April randomly put it on MARCH 22-26, 2027 despite that MoCo and PGCo have yet to post a 2026-27 calendar.
All three districts MoCo, PGCo and DC need to agree to hold spring break 2027 in the 1st or 2nd full week of April AFTER all 3 have ended the 3rd quarter.

This is one of the dumber proposals I've seen on DCUM. The only saving grace here is that it's very much dead on arrival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. I hate having spring break so late. Spring break should be in March, not late April. It’s practically the end of the year by the time it comes along. Weather is already warm so getting away doesn’t feel so necessary and ski season is over at most places.

It should not be tied to Easter. I’d rather be home for Easter and I bet many Jews would also prefer to be home for Passover.

I agree completely - hate having a late spring break. Yes, state law requires Easter Monday. But nothing requires spring break to be tied to Easter. Would love to have a mid-March break instead.

+1 Same. Mid-March is much much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. I hate having spring break so late. Spring break should be in March, not late April. It’s practically the end of the year by the time it comes along. Weather is already warm so getting away doesn’t feel so necessary and ski season is over at most places.

It should not be tied to Easter. I’d rather be home for Easter and I bet many Jews would also prefer to be home for Passover.

I agree completely - hate having a late spring break. Yes, state law requires Easter Monday. But nothing requires spring break to be tied to Easter. Would love to have a mid-March break instead.

+1 Same. Mid-March is much much better.

Same. February and march are so long.