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

[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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I was not aware before this cluster(I’m new here!) but am sure on it now. I naively thought MCPS had to follow state law.

[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's not like the BS days tacked on at the end of the year are meaningful instruction.

[Anonymous]

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

When will we know for sure about the calendar? It’s hard to plan if this takes too long.

[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.

It's not like the BS days tacked on at the end of the year are meaningful instruction.

Yes, it is better planning. The resistance to actually planning enough instructional days in MCPS is absolutely disgraceful. Won't vote for any delegates that approve this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I was not aware before this cluster(I’m new here!) but am sure on it now. I naively thought MCPS had to follow state law.

They do have to follow state law. But state law is often shaped and advanced to the benefit of the delegations within the General Assembly who listen to constituents from their districts and develop legislation based on constituent concerns.

Sometimes, doing a carveout for your district is a matter of practicality. It might take more time to collaborate with multiple delegations than drafting legislation that only impacts the people within your delegation and is simply more politically feasible to go it alone.

Sometimes, it's a matter of pride. Maybe you want your delegation to have a carveout because you believe your delegation has a unique circumstance or need that warrants it being treated from the rest of the state.

[Anonymous]

How would the two days requirement work for this year? One would be June 18th, but then they would have to either use April 15 or go until June 22, right?

[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!

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I am so angry that our delegation thinks this is good. They are behind this clearly. They are letting the school district off the hook for doing competent planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If the delegation wants to help, they should make MCPS go back to a 184 day calendar. But no - they are about letting MCPS abrogate its responsibility to educate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I am so angry that our delegation thinks this is good. They are behind this clearly. They are letting the school district off the hook for doing competent planning.

Agreed. They are effectively cutting school minimums for our county only.