MCPS updated calendar is insane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And yet 180 days is the most common requirement, as posted elsewhere. "The most common way that states regulate instructional time is to set a minimum number of days for the school year; 38 states and the District of Columbia do so. The majority of those states (27 of 38), along with D.C., mandate 180 instructional days, making it the closest thing the country has to a national norm."

And 180 is already too few for MCPS, which is failing its students.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/

Some of the states {those with a 2 subscript by the 180 (185 in NC, 186 in Kansas)} allow a specified number of hours to count as an alternative.
2 District option to meet either minimum hours per school year or days per school year.

NOT LISTED on the site is that
Some of these states that require 180 days scheduled automatically forgive calamity days.
California requires 180 days but nobody has to make up days for fires, earthquakes or in some parts snow.
Michigan requires 180 days but the first 6 bad weather days are freebies and schools can get a waiver for 3 more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Except it wasn't. We have snow days every year. So far the total number has been pretty normal for a typical year. They were bunched together more, but the overall number is typical.

Do people really not remember last year? Or before covid? It might seem worse, but that's just because MCPS used to build in more days knowing that it snows in the winter. Now they try to pretend it doesn't when they make the calendar.

Agree. MCPS closes very easily. If there's an inch upcountry and rain downcountry, we close. We often use 4-5 days, sometimes more. What the legislature should be doing is requiring MCPS to schedule a 185 day school year, and then if we don't use them ending school early.

That is what Frederick County MD does. There are even some states that require the extra days to be put onto the calendar and then given back at the end if they are not used. MCPS claims that they cannot do that because if the extra days are given back at the end, the teachers will not be paid. Not sure how so many other systems do this. I am sure it can be put in the contract to pay them.

That's ridiculous - teacher are paid to teach 180 days (plus PD days on top of that). If they have taught 180 days, then they are paid whether that is ending earlier than expected or later than expected. And agree that is certainly something that can be added to the contract.

This is effectively what MCPS has been doing. And it is a terrible way to handle it. There's an extra week in the calendar that is only used if we have snow days.

But we implement it in the most chaotic and worthless way possible.

That is not how we handle it right now. Right now we have a few contingency days that everyone thinks are non instructional. If we have to many snow days, we take away the day off and make it a school day. The other way is to have the days already on the schedule. Everyone thinks they are instructional days, but if we do not have to many snow days, we give them back and they become no noninstructional days.

Both ways have pros and cons. No matter what we will always have people who take off when it is clearly on the schedule. The second way at least is clear about when you should not plan vacation, it gives people the worst case scenario. If someone takes a gamble, it is on them. The current way leaves people wondering if they will or will not use the contingency day, if they will or will not add days to the end of the year, if they will or will not get a waiver, heck, even wondering if the state legislature will pass a new law or not.

They're equivalent when we know the only days they're going to use are the ones at the end of the calendar. And have the exact same problem. Things the school needs to schedule in advance will need to happen before that last week in case those days get canceled. Some people will schedule vacations that week hoping school is canceled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And yet 180 days is the most common requirement, as posted elsewhere. "The most common way that states regulate instructional time is to set a minimum number of days for the school year; 38 states and the District of Columbia do so. The majority of those states (27 of 38), along with D.C., mandate 180 instructional days, making it the closest thing the country has to a national norm."

And 180 is already too few for MCPS, which is failing its students.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/

Some of the states {those with a 2 subscript by the 180 (185 in NC, 186 in Kansas)} allow a specified number of hours to count as an alternative.
2 District option to meet either minimum hours per school year or days per school year.

NOT LISTED on the site is that
Some of these states that require 180 days scheduled automatically forgive calamity days.
California requires 180 days but nobody has to make up days for fires, earthquakes or in some parts snow.
Michigan requires 180 days but the first 6 bad weather days are freebies and schools can get a waiver for 3 more.

OK? I guess you're free to continue your crusade against public education. It's pretty weird, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And yet 180 days is the most common requirement, as posted elsewhere. "The most common way that states regulate instructional time is to set a minimum number of days for the school year; 38 states and the District of Columbia do so. The majority of those states (27 of 38), along with D.C., mandate 180 instructional days, making it the closest thing the country has to a national norm."

And 180 is already too few for MCPS, which is failing its students.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/

Some of the states {those with a 2 subscript by the 180 (185 in NC, 186 in Kansas)} allow a specified number of hours to count as an alternative.
2 District option to meet either minimum hours per school year or days per school year.

NOT LISTED on the site is that
Some of these states that require 180 days scheduled automatically forgive calamity days.
California requires 180 days but nobody has to make up days for fires, earthquakes or in some parts snow.
Michigan requires 180 days but the first 6 bad weather days are freebies and schools can get a waiver for 3 more.

OK? I guess you're free to continue your crusade against public education. It's pretty weird, though.

How is that a crusade? I'm simply saying what other states require. Other than similar law states like NJ, CT, MA, maybe Michigan since they get a zillion snow days and schools have to make up over a week even with 9 days forgiven (6 freebies + 3 waivers) there is nothing to complain about in most laws. Having only 2 vacation weeks a school year is hard enough, losing two weeks of summer between how holidays fell and snow day makeups is terrible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And yet 180 days is the most common requirement, as posted elsewhere. "The most common way that states regulate instructional time is to set a minimum number of days for the school year; 38 states and the District of Columbia do so. The majority of those states (27 of 38), along with D.C., mandate 180 instructional days, making it the closest thing the country has to a national norm."

And 180 is already too few for MCPS, which is failing its students.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/

Some of the states {those with a 2 subscript by the 180 (185 in NC, 186 in Kansas)} allow a specified number of hours to count as an alternative.
2 District option to meet either minimum hours per school year or days per school year.

NOT LISTED on the site is that
Some of these states that require 180 days scheduled automatically forgive calamity days.
California requires 180 days but nobody has to make up days for fires, earthquakes or in some parts snow.
Michigan requires 180 days but the first 6 bad weather days are freebies and schools can get a waiver for 3 more.

OK? I guess you're free to continue your crusade against public education. It's pretty weird, though.

How is that a crusade? I'm simply saying what other states require. Other than similar law states like NJ, CT, MA, maybe Michigan since they get a zillion snow days and schools have to make up over a week even with 9 days forgiven (6 freebies + 3 waivers) there is nothing to complain about in most laws. Having only 2 vacation weeks a school year is hard enough, losing two weeks of summer between how holidays fell and snow day makeups is terrible!

You are responding to dummies. Quality of education matters way more than quantity. A couple of days here and there are meaningless in the long run. We are focusing on the wrong thing. Instead parents should be pushing MCPS to improve the quality of curriculum and do a better job supporting teachers. And have a stricter cell phone policy. Instead we have parents who can’t handle not being able to contact their kids when they’re at school so loose cell phone policy, way too much Ed tech in schools and lots of teeth nashing about a few missed days. MCPS parents are the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And yet 180 days is the most common requirement, as posted elsewhere. "The most common way that states regulate instructional time is to set a minimum number of days for the school year; 38 states and the District of Columbia do so. The majority of those states (27 of 38), along with D.C., mandate 180 instructional days, making it the closest thing the country has to a national norm."

And 180 is already too few for MCPS, which is failing its students.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/

Some of the states {those with a 2 subscript by the 180 (185 in NC, 186 in Kansas)} allow a specified number of hours to count as an alternative.
2 District option to meet either minimum hours per school year or days per school year.

NOT LISTED on the site is that
Some of these states that require 180 days scheduled automatically forgive calamity days.
California requires 180 days but nobody has to make up days for fires, earthquakes or in some parts snow.
Michigan requires 180 days but the first 6 bad weather days are freebies and schools can get a waiver for 3 more.

OK? I guess you're free to continue your crusade against public education. It's pretty weird, though.

How is that a crusade? I'm simply saying what other states require. Other than similar law states like NJ, CT, MA, maybe Michigan since they get a zillion snow days and schools have to make up over a week even with 9 days forgiven (6 freebies + 3 waivers) there is nothing to complain about in most laws. Having only 2 vacation weeks a school year is hard enough, losing two weeks of summer between how holidays fell and snow day makeups is terrible!

Check your facts again. A lot of states have instructional-day minimums that must be met in addition to hour/minute minimums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And yet 180 days is the most common requirement, as posted elsewhere. "The most common way that states regulate instructional time is to set a minimum number of days for the school year; 38 states and the District of Columbia do so. The majority of those states (27 of 38), along with D.C., mandate 180 instructional days, making it the closest thing the country has to a national norm."

And 180 is already too few for MCPS, which is failing its students.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/

Some of the states {those with a 2 subscript by the 180 (185 in NC, 186 in Kansas)} allow a specified number of hours to count as an alternative.
2 District option to meet either minimum hours per school year or days per school year.

NOT LISTED on the site is that
Some of these states that require 180 days scheduled automatically forgive calamity days.
California requires 180 days but nobody has to make up days for fires, earthquakes or in some parts snow.
Michigan requires 180 days but the first 6 bad weather days are freebies and schools can get a waiver for 3 more.

OK? I guess you're free to continue your crusade against public education. It's pretty weird, though.

How is that a crusade? I'm simply saying what other states require. Other than similar law states like NJ, CT, MA, maybe Michigan since they get a zillion snow days and schools have to make up over a week even with 9 days forgiven (6 freebies + 3 waivers) there is nothing to complain about in most laws. Having only 2 vacation weeks a school year is hard enough, losing two weeks of summer between how holidays fell and snow day makeups is terrible!

You are responding to dummies. Quality of education matters way more than quantity. A couple of days here and there are meaningless in the long run. We are focusing on the wrong thing. Instead parents should be pushing MCPS to improve the quality of curriculum and do a better job supporting teachers. And have a stricter cell phone policy. Instead we have parents who can’t handle not being able to contact their kids when they’re at school so loose cell phone policy, way too much Ed tech in schools and lots of teeth nashing about a few missed days. MCPS parents are the worst.

If we can't do the simple things, like actually having school days, then the other things won't matter.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

The state superintendent and MSDE are not being unreasonable by wanting students in McPS to get 180 instructional days. They’re sticking up for students, half of whom can’t read or do math at grade level.

MCPS is unreasonable and incompetent by not putting more snow days in the calendar (why only 1?), not using the assigned makeup days (why put them in the calendar if you won’t use them) and not submitting a virtual learning plan for snow days.

I place the blame on McPS and the BoE for not learning from what happened last year with snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

There's a regulation for waivers. You need to make up three days. That's not too much to expect.

Why would you schedule a vacation on scheduled make-up days? Particularly when it was obvious we would need them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

There's a regulation for waivers. You need to make up three days. That's not too much to expect.

Why would you schedule a vacation on scheduled make-up days? Particularly when it was obvious we would need them?

If all the teachers want to vacation or start new jobs, they could have told their union to allow McPS to use the makeup days agreed on the calendar: Wednesday April 15. Instead they blocked it. Not sure why anyone has makeup days on the calendar if MCPS won’t use them.

Instead the union is playing chicken and hoping a waiver will come and McPS staff will get extra days off paid at the expense of instructional time for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe we'd be better off with year-round school and frequent long breaks throughout the year.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

They're not being unreasonable. They are saying that MCPS needs to use its contingency days. It refuses to do so. The vitriol from me at least is for MCPS. This is all a charade for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

The state superintendent and MSDE are not being unreasonable by wanting students in McPS to get 180 instructional days. They’re sticking up for students, half of whom can’t read or do math at grade level.

MCPS is unreasonable and incompetent by not putting more snow days in the calendar (why only 1?), not using the assigned makeup days (why put them in the calendar if you won’t use them) and not submitting a virtual learning plan for snow days.

I place the blame on McPS and the BoE for not learning from what happened last year with snow days.

+1. This is on MCPS and the BOE. They should be embarrassed. But of course they are not - this is exactly what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who already booked a vacation for the week of the 22nd. I never take days off, but I’ve put in for a sub and will leave board games and summer reading for my kids.

I wish the MCPS parents who perpetually complain could direct their vitriol at MSDE and the State Superintendent for being so unreasonable about giving waivers for extreme weather conditions.

There's a regulation for waivers. You need to make up three days. That's not too much to expect.

Why would you schedule a vacation on scheduled make-up days? Particularly when it was obvious we would need them?

If all the teachers want to vacation or start new jobs, they could have told their union to allow McPS to use the makeup days agreed on the calendar: Wednesday April 15. Instead they blocked it. Not sure why anyone has makeup days on the calendar if MCPS won’t use them.

Instead the union is playing chicken and hoping a waiver will come and McPS staff will get extra days off paid at the expense of instructional time for kids.

+1 this. I do not understand at all why there are makeup days on the calendar that no one wants to use. The March Eid day maybe I get it but April 15 on a Wednesday. Just hold school. No wonder Maryland didn’t want to give McPS a waiver.