Why would they do that? This outcome is great for MCPS staff. They get an extra week of paid vacation, and central office can wring their hands helplessly and say who could have predicted that we would have more than 1 snow day while our kids get shortchanged days of instruction (again). Meanwhile 2/3 of MCPS kids can't do math at grade level, and 1/2 can't read at grade level. |
This is why parents need to get involved. Call your senator. Testify. MCPS put in its legislative priorities that it wants to permanently remove the 180 day requirement--which is what this bill would have done as introduced. |
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Here is a link to the 2026 BOE/MCPS legislative priorities: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/boe/meetings/memorandum/09/uploadedfiles/boe/meetings/memorandum/2026_legislativeplatform_final.pdf
Document below. NB: HS are required to have 1,170 hours of instruction. The 1,080 applies to ES/MS. Priority Issue Minimum Instructional Time Requirements State law requires schools to provide at least 180 days and 1,080 instructional hours each school year. A waiver process exists for schools that meet the hour requirement but fall short of 180 days, due to natural disasters, civil emergencies, or severe weather. In the 2024–2025 school year, winter weather closures resulted in MCPS being able to meet the 1,080-hour requirement but fall short of the 180-day minimum. The school system sought a waiver, which was denied. Therefore, MCPS had to extend the school year by two half-days – Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17 – at more than $1.75 million for personnel costs alone. There were additional costs associated with simply keeping the facilities operational for two extra days. Absenteeism among students and staff was unusually high on those days, resulting in little instructional value for an outsized financial cost. Allowing MCPS to meet either the 180-day or the 1,080-hour requirement – rather than both – would have avoided this unnecessary expense. Therefore, the Montgomery County Board of Education plans to pursue a local bill permitting compliance through either the minimum number of days or hours. |
But how do they meet 1170 hours for high school then? |
They would still need to meet that. High school is a bit loner than ES so that's part of how they increase hours. |
3 -5 days of school isn't going to fix the reading and math issues. Its far more complicated than that. Many teachers were working. |
What MCPS 10 month employees that you know get paid summer vacation? 10 month employees do not get paid during the summer. This is 10 month employees work separate jobs during the summer. |
Yea you. Many of our kids have jobs, camps and other stuff. They don't do anything so its pointless. |
Did they say MCPS told the union that? |
DP. Converting the 17th to a full day won't help with days, only with hours. |
Has anyone else heard this about April 6th potentially being a school day? If this is real, then honestly, of those three choices I'd think they'd pick April 6th (doesn't piss off teachers by taking their grading day or Muslims by taking their holiday-- lots of kids and teachers will be out April 6th because of earlier plans but honestly adding a school day that lots of people don't actually attend seems to be MCPS's favorite way to make up school days so I don't think that would bother them.) But that is so soon... if it's happening, I would think more people would have heard about it already? Can others chime in? |
| You can stick it to MCPS all you want and send your kids for babysitting and watching movies but my kids and I will be at the beach. Best time to go is when everyone else is at school but the kids are not missing learning days. |
| MCPS sent staff a letter today stating that April 15 will now be a half day. |
I’m glad the union relented on that. I wonder why they haven’t let parents know yet? |
Good question. |