MCPS updated calendar is insane

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming the fiscal year ends at the end of June so......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why does MCPS include makeup days in the calendar, and then not use them? 3/20 and 4/15 would have been preferable to these June days.

They are trying to get a waiver of the 180 days requirement. It’s a gambit. It appears so outrageous, and then they just want out of the days requirement. The state legislature may actually do it…even though they are not using the designated back up days.

It was already denied yesterday. The state has had it with MCPS entitlement

MCPS is pushing emergency bill right now in state legislature to override

It didn’t work last time they tried. All other counties in Maryland but us were operational after the week off weekend AND used some of their contingency days. PG even used Presidents Day when the state allowed it. MC did not. The teachers union refused to use April 15th. Muslims want their holiday.

Why should the state allow MCPS to go less days than every other f’ing county when they haven’t put ANY effort getting these kids the right number of days.

The problem now is that MCPS is getting the legislature to change the law just for them. What an embarrassment. Half our kids can’t read at grade level, and they are even worse at math, but MCPS is seeking to permanently get rid of the 180 day requirement — rather than commit to doing better planning moving forward.

Not sure at all why people are making comments like this about the proposed legislation. Schools are required to be in session for a certain number of hours per year, period. I forget what the requirement is in MD for elementary schools, but for high schools I believe it is 1170 hours. MCPS exceeds this requirement in its proposed yearly calendars by approximately 16 days. There is a separate requirement for schools regarding how short or long a particular school day is - to avoid unlikely scenarios like making kids go to school for just a couple of hours at a time or creating school days that last from dawn until dusk. With these limitations, I don't see a single valid argument for adding the caveat that schools must meet these requirements in a format of 180 separate days or more. It's just dumb. As long as school districts are meeting for a specified minimum amount of time within reasonable daily parameters, no one should care of it happens in 170 days or in 185. In light of inclement weather, this legislation would simply eliminate the arbitrary requirement of meeting both the hourly AND daily requirement. Done. Saying that's unreasonable is pointless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was absolutely no teacher feedback requested for these changes in the calendar. No teachers want to go into June 25th.
Teachers work summer school, have other jobs etc. Keeping all of the school buildings open this late in the summer as well as providing buses and meals for students through that week will large added expenses for a school system that already claims to not have enough money.

Then you guys need to work with your union to have MCPS do better upfront planning and push them to use early contingency days. MCPS will say they can't because of the union. If that's not correct, or if the union isn't representing the best interest of the teachers, then you all need to speak up.

Ahh the typical Anti-Union moron is here.

No, PP is just reflecting reality. The union absolutely has the power here. If you don’t like going late I to June, you need the u ion to advocate for you.

Union cannot bargain over the calendar because it is an illegal subject of bargaining. Decision was made by "MCPS Board of Education meeting and the Superintendent."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was absolutely no teacher feedback requested for these changes in the calendar. No teachers want to go into June 25th.
Teachers work summer school, have other jobs etc. Keeping all of the school buildings open this late in the summer as well as providing buses and meals for students through that week will large added expenses for a school system that already claims to not have enough money.

Then you guys need to work with your union to have MCPS do better upfront planning and push them to use early contingency days. MCPS will say they can't because of the union. If that's not correct, or if the union isn't representing the best interest of the teachers, then you all need to speak up.

Ahh the typical Anti-Union moron is here.

No, PP is just reflecting reality. The union absolutely has the power here. If you don’t like going late I to June, you need the u ion to advocate for you.

Union cannot bargain over the calendar because it is an illegal subject of bargaining. Decision was made by "MCPS Board of Education meeting and the Superintendent."

Exactly. The union plays no role here. Currently they have a petition out for employees to sign asking that this new, revised calendar be changed. But that's all they can do - no more than parents could do in regard to influencing Taylor and his BOE minions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully teachers weren’t planning on traveling for 4th of July.

Yeah, this is the worst. Parents can just call absent for those last few days (of mostly watching movies and class parties), but teachers need to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why does MCPS include makeup days in the calendar, and then not use them? 3/20 and 4/15 would have been preferable to these June days.

They are trying to get a waiver of the 180 days requirement. It’s a gambit. It appears so outrageous, and then they just want out of the days requirement. The state legislature may actually do it…even though they are not using the designated back up days.

It was already denied yesterday. The state has had it with MCPS entitlement

MCPS is pushing emergency bill right now in state legislature to override

It didn’t work last time they tried. All other counties in Maryland but us were operational after the week off weekend AND used some of their contingency days. PG even used Presidents Day when the state allowed it. MC did not. The teachers union refused to use April 15th. Muslims want their holiday.

Why should the state allow MCPS to go less days than every other f’ing county when they haven’t put ANY effort getting these kids the right number of days.

The problem now is that MCPS is getting the legislature to change the law just for them. What an embarrassment. Half our kids can’t read at grade level, and they are even worse at math, but MCPS is seeking to permanently get rid of the 180 day requirement — rather than commit to doing better planning moving forward.

Not sure at all why people are making comments like this about the proposed legislation. Schools are required to be in session for a certain number of hours per year, period. I forget what the requirement is in MD for elementary schools, but for high schools I believe it is 1170 hours. MCPS exceeds this requirement in its proposed yearly calendars by approximately 16 days. There is a separate requirement for schools regarding how short or long a particular school day is - to avoid unlikely scenarios like making kids go to school for just a couple of hours at a time or creating school days that last from dawn until dusk. With these limitations, I don't see a single valid argument for adding the caveat that schools must meet these requirements in a format of 180 separate days or more. It's just dumb. As long as school districts are meeting for a specified minimum amount of time within reasonable daily parameters, no one should care of it happens in 170 days or in 185. In light of inclement weather, this legislation would simply eliminate the arbitrary requirement of meeting both the hourly AND daily requirement. Done. Saying that's unreasonable is pointless.

I care. Right now MCPS is exceeding the hours requirement and kids are still failing. The solution is not to put them in school less. Reducing the number of days of school does not make sense for a school district in which less than half the kids are proficient. MCPS instead should be instituting a calendar that adds in more snow days just like they used to do. And they should use the contingency days they identified in the order they come when make-up days are needed. Those measures would make it so that we didn't have to extend the school year later into June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why does MCPS include makeup days in the calendar, and then not use them? 3/20 and 4/15 would have been preferable to these June days.

They are trying to get a waiver of the 180 days requirement. It’s a gambit. It appears so outrageous, and then they just want out of the days requirement. The state legislature may actually do it…even though they are not using the designated back up days.

It was already denied yesterday. The state has had it with MCPS entitlement

MCPS is pushing emergency bill right now in state legislature to override

It didn’t work last time they tried. All other counties in Maryland but us were operational after the week off weekend AND used some of their contingency days. PG even used Presidents Day when the state allowed it. MC did not. The teachers union refused to use April 15th. Muslims want their holiday.

Why should the state allow MCPS to go less days than every other f’ing county when they haven’t put ANY effort getting these kids the right number of days.

The problem now is that MCPS is getting the legislature to change the law just for them. What an embarrassment. Half our kids can’t read at grade level, and they are even worse at math, but MCPS is seeking to permanently get rid of the 180 day requirement — rather than commit to doing better planning moving forward.

Not sure at all why people are making comments like this about the proposed legislation. Schools are required to be in session for a certain number of hours per year, period. I forget what the requirement is in MD for elementary schools, but for high schools I believe it is 1170 hours. MCPS exceeds this requirement in its proposed yearly calendars by approximately 16 days. There is a separate requirement for schools regarding how short or long a particular school day is - to avoid unlikely scenarios like making kids go to school for just a couple of hours at a time or creating school days that last from dawn until dusk. With these limitations, I don't see a single valid argument for adding the caveat that schools must meet these requirements in a format of 180 separate days or more. It's just dumb. As long as school districts are meeting for a specified minimum amount of time within reasonable daily parameters, no one should care of it happens in 170 days or in 185. In light of inclement weather, this legislation would simply eliminate the arbitrary requirement of meeting both the hourly AND daily requirement. Done. Saying that's unreasonable is pointless.

It isn't unreasonable nor is it unusual to specify a number of days. Particularly in elementary school, curriculum is based on daily lessons. You can't get through the material without a sufficient number of days. You can't extend a day by 10% and do 1.1 lessons per day.

MCPS isn't just engaged in poor planning- they're deliberately harming kids. They know they don't have enough days in the calendar, but continue to pass calendars that repeat those decisions. The half-days tacked on to the end of the year are outrageous. The superintendent and BoE are trying to make them as worthless as possible in the hopes that MD will let them out of their legal responsibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why does MCPS include makeup days in the calendar, and then not use them? 3/20 and 4/15 would have been preferable to these June days.

They are trying to get a waiver of the 180 days requirement. It’s a gambit. It appears so outrageous, and then they just want out of the days requirement. The state legislature may actually do it…even though they are not using the designated back up days.

It was already denied yesterday. The state has had it with MCPS entitlement

MCPS is pushing emergency bill right now in state legislature to override

It didn’t work last time they tried. All other counties in Maryland but us were operational after the week off weekend AND used some of their contingency days. PG even used Presidents Day when the state allowed it. MC did not. The teachers union refused to use April 15th. Muslims want their holiday.

Why should the state allow MCPS to go less days than every other f’ing county when they haven’t put ANY effort getting these kids the right number of days.

The problem now is that MCPS is getting the legislature to change the law just for them. What an embarrassment. Half our kids can’t read at grade level, and they are even worse at math, but MCPS is seeking to permanently get rid of the 180 day requirement — rather than commit to doing better planning moving forward.

Not sure at all why people are making comments like this about the proposed legislation. Schools are required to be in session for a certain number of hours per year, period. I forget what the requirement is in MD for elementary schools, but for high schools I believe it is 1170 hours. MCPS exceeds this requirement in its proposed yearly calendars by approximately 16 days. There is a separate requirement for schools regarding how short or long a particular school day is - to avoid unlikely scenarios like making kids go to school for just a couple of hours at a time or creating school days that last from dawn until dusk. With these limitations, I don't see a single valid argument for adding the caveat that schools must meet these requirements in a format of 180 separate days or more. It's just dumb. As long as school districts are meeting for a specified minimum amount of time within reasonable daily parameters, no one should care of it happens in 170 days or in 185. In light of inclement weather, this legislation would simply eliminate the arbitrary requirement of meeting both the hourly AND daily requirement. Done. Saying that's unreasonable is pointless.

It isn't unreasonable nor is it unusual to specify a number of days. Particularly in elementary school, curriculum is based on daily lessons. You can't get through the material without a sufficient number of days. You can't extend a day by 10% and do 1.1 lessons per day.

MCPS isn't just engaged in poor planning- they're deliberately harming kids. They know they don't have enough days in the calendar, but continue to pass calendars that repeat those decisions. The half-days tacked on to the end of the year are outrageous. The superintendent and BoE are trying to make them as worthless as possible in the hopes that MD will let them out of their legal responsibilities.

This is 100% what is happening, and unfortunately the legislature, led by the Montgomery County delegation, is going to fall for it -- and our kids will suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why does MCPS include makeup days in the calendar, and then not use them? 3/20 and 4/15 would have been preferable to these June days.

They are trying to get a waiver of the 180 days requirement. It’s a gambit. It appears so outrageous, and then they just want out of the days requirement. The state legislature may actually do it…even though they are not using the designated back up days.

It was already denied yesterday. The state has had it with MCPS entitlement

MCPS is pushing emergency bill right now in state legislature to override

It didn’t work last time they tried. All other counties in Maryland but us were operational after the week off weekend AND used some of their contingency days. PG even used Presidents Day when the state allowed it. MC did not. The teachers union refused to use April 15th. Muslims want their holiday.

Why should the state allow MCPS to go less days than every other f’ing county when they haven’t put ANY effort getting these kids the right number of days.

The problem now is that MCPS is getting the legislature to change the law just for them. What an embarrassment. Half our kids can’t read at grade level, and they are even worse at math, but MCPS is seeking to permanently get rid of the 180 day requirement — rather than commit to doing better planning moving forward.

Not sure at all why people are making comments like this about the proposed legislation. Schools are required to be in session for a certain number of hours per year, period. I forget what the requirement is in MD for elementary schools, but for high schools I believe it is 1170 hours. MCPS exceeds this requirement in its proposed yearly calendars by approximately 16 days. There is a separate requirement for schools regarding how short or long a particular school day is - to avoid unlikely scenarios like making kids go to school for just a couple of hours at a time or creating school days that last from dawn until dusk. With these limitations, I don't see a single valid argument for adding the caveat that schools must meet these requirements in a format of 180 separate days or more. It's just dumb. As long as school districts are meeting for a specified minimum amount of time within reasonable daily parameters, no one should care of it happens in 170 days or in 185. In light of inclement weather, this legislation would simply eliminate the arbitrary requirement of meeting both the hourly AND daily requirement. Done. Saying that's unreasonable is pointless.

It isn't unreasonable nor is it unusual to specify a number of days. Particularly in elementary school, curriculum is based on daily lessons. You can't get through the material without a sufficient number of days. You can't extend a day by 10% and do 1.1 lessons per day.

MCPS isn't just engaged in poor planning- they're deliberately harming kids. They know they don't have enough days in the calendar, but continue to pass calendars that repeat those decisions. The half-days tacked on to the end of the year are outrageous. The superintendent and BoE are trying to make them as worthless as possible in the hopes that MD will let them out of their legal responsibilities.

This is 100% what is happening, and unfortunately the legislature, led by the Montgomery County delegation, is going to fall for it -- and our kids will suffer.

+1 Once I realized what’s going on it’s maddening.

[Anonymous]

I love how BOE sends a survey for calendar recs every year. Have they ever listened to what anyone has said. One person testified at BOE meeting about them gambling with snow days. He even pretended to pass out gamblers anonymous booklets! Taylor even commented on his testimony kind of agreeing.... Time for them to start really listening to their constituents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was absolutely no teacher feedback requested for these changes in the calendar. No teachers want to go into June 25th.
Teachers work summer school, have other jobs etc. Keeping all of the school buildings open this late in the summer as well as providing buses and meals for students through that week will large added expenses for a school system that already claims to not have enough money.

Then you guys need to work with your union to have MCPS do better upfront planning and push them to use early contingency days. MCPS will say they can't because of the union. If that's not correct, or if the union isn't representing the best interest of the teachers, then you all need to speak up.

Ahh the typical Anti-Union moron is here.

No, PP is just reflecting reality. The union absolutely has the power here. If you don’t like going late I to June, you need the u ion to advocate for you.

What evidence is there that the BOE asked any union? The union didn't solicit any feedback from teachers.

The CO met with MCEA. They do so regularly. MCEA couldn't do a survey because it isn't a legal negotiating issue. But past superintendents, perhaps accidentally, have acknowledged discussing these changes with MCEA.

[Anonymous]

Can we not agree that this year is extremely unusual?? Just because people want exceptions this year doesn't mean it should be or would be a permanent thing. I think if people are loud enough, the board will hear and hopefully amend next year's calendar. It's not too late, as they already amended one day in September 2026 that was slated to be off that is now a school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why does MCPS include makeup days in the calendar, and then not use them? 3/20 and 4/15 would have been preferable to these June days.

They are trying to get a waiver of the 180 days requirement. It’s a gambit. It appears so outrageous, and then they just want out of the days requirement. The state legislature may actually do it…even though they are not using the designated back up days.

It was already denied yesterday. The state has had it with MCPS entitlement

MCPS is pushing emergency bill right now in state legislature to override

It didn’t work last time they tried. All other counties in Maryland but us were operational after the week off weekend AND used some of their contingency days. PG even used Presidents Day when the state allowed it. MC did not. The teachers union refused to use April 15th. Muslims want their holiday.

Why should the state allow MCPS to go less days than every other f’ing county when they haven’t put ANY effort getting these kids the right number of days.

The problem now is that MCPS is getting the legislature to change the law just for them. What an embarrassment. Half our kids can’t read at grade level, and they are even worse at math, but MCPS is seeking to permanently get rid of the 180 day requirement — rather than commit to doing better planning moving forward.

Not sure at all why people are making comments like this about the proposed legislation. Schools are required to be in session for a certain number of hours per year, period. I forget what the requirement is in MD for elementary schools, but for high schools I believe it is 1170 hours. MCPS exceeds this requirement in its proposed yearly calendars by approximately 16 days. There is a separate requirement for schools regarding how short or long a particular school day is - to avoid unlikely scenarios like making kids go to school for just a couple of hours at a time or creating school days that last from dawn until dusk. With these limitations, I don't see a single valid argument for adding the caveat that schools must meet these requirements in a format of 180 separate days or more. It's just dumb. As long as school districts are meeting for a specified minimum amount of time within reasonable daily parameters, no one should care of it happens in 170 days or in 185. In light of inclement weather, this legislation would simply eliminate the arbitrary requirement of meeting both the hourly AND daily requirement. Done. Saying that's unreasonable is pointless.

It isn't unreasonable nor is it unusual to specify a number of days. Particularly in elementary school, curriculum is based on daily lessons. You can't get through the material without a sufficient number of days. You can't extend a day by 10% and do 1.1 lessons per day.

MCPS isn't just engaged in poor planning- they're deliberately harming kids. They know they don't have enough days in the calendar, but continue to pass calendars that repeat those decisions. The half-days tacked on to the end of the year are outrageous. The superintendent and BoE are trying to make them as worthless as possible in the hopes that MD will let them out of their legal responsibilities.

Colorado requires 160 days, Minnesota 165 days, Kentucky 170 days and many others have a straight hours requirement (like 990 hours) equating that to "180 days: If MD E/MS schools get 1080 hours that is 90 more than many other states and 1170 for high schools is more than any other state requires. They are not being shortened on time. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_14.asp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how BOE sends a survey for calendar recs every year. Have they ever listened to what anyone has said. One person testified at BOE meeting about them gambling with snow days. He even pretended to pass out gamblers anonymous booklets! Taylor even commented on his testimony kind of agreeing.... Time for them to start really listening to their constituents!

Lately the surveys have actually been asking about starting a week earlier than usual, and those options are never popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how BOE sends a survey for calendar recs every year. Have they ever listened to what anyone has said. One person testified at BOE meeting about them gambling with snow days. He even pretended to pass out gamblers anonymous booklets! Taylor even commented on his testimony kind of agreeing.... Time for them to start really listening to their constituents!

Lately the surveys have actually been asking about starting a week earlier than usual, and those options are never popular.

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They are already starting a week earlier then they normally do when Labor Day is September 7. While the start date of 2026-27 is only one day earlier than this year it's 2 weeks before Labor Day which NEVER happened before! In previous years (like 2015-16, 2020-21) that looked like this one they started on August 31 but with more holidays added they've been forced to take a week from summer unless the law gets changed!