The legislature may end up reverting the makeup days...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

It is awful. The state is going to let MCPS weasel out of having a reasonable plan for snow days. MCPS’s
Plan to make this year’s calendar as bad for parents and teachers as possible rather that properly scheduling appears to have paid off.

[Anonymous]

This is what they’ll have to do because mcps and the state claim there is no money.
It would cost way too much to go into that last week in June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting a new threat from the thread on HB1084 with a few updates that are going to get missed otherwise:

The bill passed out of the MD House today and on to the Senate but was amended in some important ways --

The bill only allows MCPS the ability to reduce the number of days in school below 180 in the event of inclement weather (or other specific issues detailed in the legislation) and still requires them to plan a calendar with 180 minimum days. It also sets a floor at 175 days -- MCPS cannot go under 175 days.

I still think we need to push MCPS to better plan for snow days, but this is far better than the original text that would have given MCPS carte blanche to reduce the number of days in the year.

It needs to pass the Senate still but this would be retroactive meaning schools would end on June 18...

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/amds/bil_0004/HB1084_51312501.pdf

It looks like it only applies to this year and next year and then expires?

It will get extended and probably made worse. This legislature cares about the union, not the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

A 175 day school year is just right. Not too short but it doesn't go on forever based on out of control situations like holidays and snow days. There a more religious holidays then 6+ years ago and some years have 5+ snow days. That said MC should replace the 1Q and 3Q grading days with multiple 1-1.5 hour early dismissals so not half days more like 3/4 days. If schools are closed 3 or more consecutive days because of a single emergency, the 3rd day onward should be virtual. If schools are closed (non-virtual) for 5 or more days, either Good Friday or Easter Monday (but not both) shall be allowed to be reclaimed. Schools should also be allowed to go virtual on election day since that is nobody's holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

Exactly what do you think those children are learning in those last five hours of the last day before summer?

Zilch.

They aren't learning much because those days were not originally in the calendar and lots of teachers and students won't show up.

MCPS should have planned better. This proposed bill, even with the sunset.provision, sets a terrible precedent. It says to MCPS that they do not need to program the appropriate number of days into the school calendar because the General Assembly can sweep in and exempt them from the rules that every other district in the state is subject to. Sends a horrible message as literacy and math proficiency rates are in freefall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting a new threat from the thread on HB1084 with a few updates that are going to get missed otherwise:

The bill passed out of the MD House today and on to the Senate but was amended in some important ways --

The bill only allows MCPS the ability to reduce the number of days in school below 180 in the event of inclement weather (or other specific issues detailed in the legislation) and still requires them to plan a calendar with 180 minimum days. It also sets a floor at 175 days -- MCPS cannot go under 175 days.

I still think we need to push MCPS to better plan for snow days, but this is far better than the original text that would have given MCPS carte blanche to reduce the number of days in the year.

It needs to pass the Senate still but this would be retroactive meaning schools would end on June 18...

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/amds/bil_0004/HB1084_51312501.pdf

It looks like it only applies to this year and next year and then expires?

It will get extended and probably made worse. This legislature cares about the union, not the parents.

You are free to home school your children so they can one day also be entitled and awful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

Exactly what do you think those children are learning in those last five hours of the last day before summer?

Zilch.

They aren't learning much because those days were not originally in the calendar and lots of teachers and students won't show up.

MCPS should have planned better. This proposed bill, even with the sunset.provision, sets a terrible precedent. It says to MCPS that they do not need to program the appropriate number of days into the school calendar because the General Assembly can sweep in and exempt them from the rules that every other district in the state is subject to. Sends a horrible message as literacy and math proficiency rates are in freefall.

The rules should be the same for the ENTIRE State! Why exempt some? Cop out! 175 days is a fair number due to more holidays in the calendar but the law should be changed for ALL of Maryland, not just MCPS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

Exactly what do you think those children are learning in those last five hours of the last day before summer?

Zilch.

They aren't learning much because those days were not originally in the calendar and lots of teachers and students won't show up.

MCPS should have planned better. This proposed bill, even with the sunset.provision, sets a terrible precedent. It says to MCPS that they do not need to program the appropriate number of days into the school calendar because the General Assembly can sweep in and exempt them from the rules that every other district in the state is subject to. Sends a horrible message as literacy and math proficiency rates are in freefall.

The rules should be the same for the ENTIRE State! Why exempt some? Cop out! 175 days is a fair number due to more holidays in the calendar but the law should be changed for ALL of Maryland, not just MCPS!

+1. If 175 is good enough for MCPS why not change it for all? It is the STATE legislature after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

Exactly what do you think those children are learning in those last five hours of the last day before summer?

Zilch.

They aren't learning much because those days were not originally in the calendar and lots of teachers and students won't show up.

MCPS should have planned better. This proposed bill, even with the sunset.provision, sets a terrible precedent. It says to MCPS that they do not need to program the appropriate number of days into the school calendar because the General Assembly can sweep in and exempt them from the rules that every other district in the state is subject to. Sends a horrible message as literacy and math proficiency rates are in freefall.

They’re not learning anything in the last five hours of an original calendar day either.

I agree, there needs to be much better planning, but I don’t think we should kid ourselves that there’s any learning happening in the last week of an original school calendar even less so during make up days. My kids won’t be going their last day is the 18th.

[Anonymous]

Why isn’t this for the whole state?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

Exactly what do you think those children are learning in those last five hours of the last day before summer?

Zilch.

They aren't learning much because those days were not originally in the calendar and lots of teachers and students won't show up.

MCPS should have planned better. This proposed bill, even with the sunset.provision, sets a terrible precedent. It says to MCPS that they do not need to program the appropriate number of days into the school calendar because the General Assembly can sweep in and exempt them from the rules that every other district in the state is subject to. Sends a horrible message as literacy and math proficiency rates are in freefall.

They’re not learning anything in the last five hours of an original calendar day either.

I agree, there needs to be much better planning, but I don’t think we should kid ourselves that there’s any learning happening in the last week of an original school calendar even less so during make up days. My kids won’t be going their last day is the 18th.

By that standard we should just cancel the whole school year as every.time. we remove a week the week before it is "useless"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn’t this for the whole state?

Because reducing school days sends a terrible message but MCPS has too much hubris to recognize this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

Exactly what do you think those children are learning in those last five hours of the last day before summer?

Zilch.

They aren't learning much because those days were not originally in the calendar and lots of teachers and students won't show up.

MCPS should have planned better. This proposed bill, even with the sunset.provision, sets a terrible precedent. It says to MCPS that they do not need to program the appropriate number of days into the school calendar because the General Assembly can sweep in and exempt them from the rules that every other district in the state is subject to. Sends a horrible message as literacy and math proficiency rates are in freefall.

They’re not learning anything in the last five hours of an original calendar day either.

I agree, there needs to be much better planning, but I don’t think we should kid ourselves that there’s any learning happening in the last week of an original school calendar even less so during make up days. My kids won’t be going their last day is the 18th.

By that standard we should just cancel the whole school year as every.time. we remove a week the week before it is "useless"

Right. Because that’s the exact same thing. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn’t this for the whole state?

Because each county's delegation is responsible for drafting and sponsored legislation that serves its constituents.

Are you aware that there is a Montgomery County Delegation within the General Assembly? https://www.montgomerycountydelegation.com/

This is how state and local politics works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. So basically the Maryland legislature ok'ed MCPS kids getting only 175 days of instruction per year? Such a difference from Massachusetts which requires its school districts to schedule 185 days of school, to ensure that they get 180 with snow days.

But MCPS staff get more paid holidays, so I guess they're happy.

Exactly what do you think those children are learning in those last five hours of the last day before summer?

Zilch.

They aren't learning much because those days were not originally in the calendar and lots of teachers and students won't show up.

MCPS should have planned better. This proposed bill, even with the sunset.provision, sets a terrible precedent. It says to MCPS that they do not need to program the appropriate number of days into the school calendar because the General Assembly can sweep in and exempt them from the rules that every other district in the state is subject to. Sends a horrible message as literacy and math proficiency rates are in freefall.

They’re not learning anything in the last five hours of an original calendar day either.

I agree, there needs to be much better planning, but I don’t think we should kid ourselves that there’s any learning happening in the last week of an original school calendar even less so during make up days. My kids won’t be going their last day is the 18th.

By that standard we should just cancel the whole school year as every.time. we remove a week the week before it is "useless"

Right. Because that’s the exact same thing. 🙄

Do you not get the difference between a week that is planned in the original calendar and a make up week tacked on in the middle of the year? MCPS should include enough days in its calendar, and it didn't for two years in a row.