Why is Friday a half day?

[Anonymous]

Subject. I know this doesn't impact the calendar drama but with all the days off, having to also figure out care for Friday afternoon is a bit annoying.

[Anonymous]

Just to piss you off.

[Anonymous]

OP, it does seem ridiculous to have a half day when we already had a snow day and given all of the disruptions, so I agree.

But I imagine there's some clause with the teachers' union contract on a minimum number of days of notice (probably at least 30 days or more) before MCPS can convert an early release day back to a full instructional day and that's why it's still a half day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to piss you off.

Thanks, that's a helpful response to my question. Guess you have nothing better to do today!

[Anonymous]

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/calendar/pdfs/2025/2025-26_TRADITIONAL_SchoolCalendar.pdf

It's just listed as: "early release day for students"

But yes, if MCPS cared about actually giving students instructional time rather than just checking the box on 180 days with some half-assed June days, it would be a full day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it does seem ridiculous to have a half day when we already had a snow day and given all of the disruptions, so I agree.

But I imagine there's some clause with the teachers' union contract on a minimum number of days of notice (probably at least 30 days or more) before MCPS can convert an early release day back to a full instructional day and that's why it's still a half day.

Yeah, but I'm wondering more if there is a specific reason that this was identified as early release. Like, is it for interim grading? I've lost track of where we are in the quarter with all the days off.

[Anonymous]

Interims are due. My DH is a teacher.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what working parents do who have no flexibility and no support system, to be honest. I know a single mother whose boss lets her bring her daughter to work, which is really helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it does seem ridiculous to have a half day when we already had a snow day and given all of the disruptions, so I agree.

But I imagine there's some clause with the teachers' union contract on a minimum number of days of notice (probably at least 30 days or more) before MCPS can convert an early release day back to a full instructional day and that's why it's still a half day.

Yeah, but I'm wondering more if there is a specific reason that this was identified as early release. Like, is it for interim grading? I've lost track of where we are in the quarter with all the days off.

Nope, read the calendar. Some days are marked as teacher development day or grading. Not these ones--they're just "early release" like the pre-Thanksgiving days.
https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/calendar/pdfs/2025/2025-26_TRADITIONAL_SchoolCalendar.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it does seem ridiculous to have a half day when we already had a snow day and given all of the disruptions, so I agree.

But I imagine there's some clause with the teachers' union contract on a minimum number of days of notice (probably at least 30 days or more) before MCPS can convert an early release day back to a full instructional day and that's why it's still a half day.

Yeah, but I'm wondering more if there is a specific reason that this was identified as early release. Like, is it for interim grading? I've lost track of where we are in the quarter with all the days off.

Yes, interims are due next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to piss you off.

Thanks, that's a helpful response to my question. Guess you have nothing better to do today!

Guess you have nothing better to do than ponder this question. What will the answer do for you anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it does seem ridiculous to have a half day when we already had a snow day and given all of the disruptions, so I agree.

But I imagine there's some clause with the teachers' union contract on a minimum number of days of notice (probably at least 30 days or more) before MCPS can convert an early release day back to a full instructional day and that's why it's still a half day.

Yeah, but I'm wondering more if there is a specific reason that this was identified as early release. Like, is it for interim grading? I've lost track of where we are in the quarter with all the days off.

Yes, interims are due next week.

Interims were previously due this week. They have been bumped to next week, but sadly, they did not restore Friday to a full instructional day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Subject. I know this doesn't impact the calendar drama but with all the days off, having to also figure out care for Friday afternoon is a bit annoying.

Seriously??
It has been on the calendar from the beginning. If you failed to plan for that, it's on you.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you raise this question last year when they made the calendar and asked for input?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to piss you off.

Thanks, that's a helpful response to my question. Guess you have nothing better to do today!

Guess you have nothing better to do than ponder this question. What will the answer do for you anyway?

What is wrong with you? Nothing wrong with trying to figure out if there's logic behind the MCPS calendar. Unfortunately, most time there is not. But if this is a half day so that teachers can get interim grades are in, not sure why it's not marked as a "grading day" or whatever, rather than a random early release.