2026-2027 calendar updates

[Anonymous]

This is why they should count hours and not days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why they should count hours and not days.

No. The only solution is to stop giving every holiday off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why they should count hours and not days.

What happened to the legislation advancing that idea?

[Anonymous]

At todays BOE around 3:30 it is listed as a discussion item. Final vote on April 30. That gives the public 2 weeks to advocate one way or the other. I suggest (as other poster mentioned) to email BOE if you feel strongly one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the first week be a virtual one with meeting teacher and classmates virtually to get to know each other etc... and then ease into classroom the following week?

Gross! No teacher or kid wants that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why they should count hours and not days.

What happened to the legislation advancing that idea?

Didnt advance in the Senate I believe.

Raising taxes and reducing the number of school days doesn't mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 8th grader. I know it’s not all about me but I like the idea of a transition day.
I’m glad MCPS started it.
Im ok with shorter summer in theory , but not at this short notice. Camps are paid for, trips are planned etc.

They’ve always had an orientation for those transition grades. It used to be a half day the Thursday or Friday before the first day of school and it didn’t count as an instructional day.

The new transition day format was a joke at my kid’s Hs. Most of the time admin corralled them in the cafeteria, theatre and gym to take turns lecturing them on the new attendance and grading policies. Random counselors led small groups through the building for about 10 minutes (my kid didn’t even meet their counselor until November). Nobody showed the kids where their lockers were or had them practice opening them to at least make sure they work. There was no technology training either. My kid was new to MCPS and was unable to do a lot of work in class for the first 2 weeks of school due to the school being lazy and not using transition day to set up her online accounts. When students met their teachers they started off with “I’m going to say this all again tomorrow” because most of the classes have mixed grades and/or they knew attendance would be bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 8th grader. I know it’s not all about me but I like the idea of a transition day.
I’m glad MCPS started it.
Im ok with shorter summer in theory , but not at this short notice. Camps are paid for, trips are planned etc.

They’ve always had an orientation for those transition grades. It used to be a half day the Thursday or Friday before the first day of school and it didn’t count as an instructional day.

The new transition day format was a joke at my kid’s Hs. Most of the time admin corralled them in the cafeteria, theatre and gym to take turns lecturing them on the new attendance and grading policies. Random counselors led small groups through the building for about 10 minutes (my kid didn’t even meet their counselor until November). Nobody showed the kids where their lockers were or had them practice opening them to at least make sure they work. There was no technology training either. My kid was new to MCPS and was unable to do a lot of work in class for the first 2 weeks of school due to the school being lazy and not using transition day to set up her online accounts. When students met their teachers they started off with “I’m going to say this all again tomorrow” because most of the classes have mixed grades and/or they knew attendance would be bad.

My kid will be new to MCPS too. This makes me annoyed and we haven’t even started yet.

[Anonymous]

I'm all for scrapping the transition day. My kid said it was a waste too. Did scavenger hunt around the building to familiarize (took 30 min) and then spent the rest of the day in small groups doing basically nothing. They should go back to the old format of 1/2 day the week before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Changes to the 2026–2027 school calendar: Due to a Maryland State Board of Education requirement that public school systems end their school years by June 18, 2027, the Board of Education will need to amend the school calendar for 2026–2027. Changes could affect: religious observances, the shortening of winter and/or spring break, or potentially beginning the school year earlier in August.
The Board will take final action at their meeting on April 30

MSDE has lost its ever-loving mind!! What is the rationale for ending it by the 18th of June?!?!

This makes total sense to me. No one is learning anything after mid-June. Make the school systems have a sensible calendar and not just tack onto the end of the year. The problem for MCPS is that it only incorporates one extra day into the calendar and is unwilling to use spring makeup days. It has never had sensible calendar planning. Glad MSDE is forcing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about others, but I'm tired of this leadership yanking us around. I'd encourage many emails with this suggestion for calendar adjustments:
1. End the transition day on August 24. It's a nice idea, but the reality is that it has low attendance and is a waste of time for the students and staff. I had a 9th grader this year attend, and it was a waste of time.
2. Have school on November 9. Currently, this is No Instruction, and I can only assume it is to accommodate Diwali. The only problem is that this holiday is on November 8. This is not consistent with 2 things. First, school on November 9 will not force any student of the Hindu faith to choose between their religious responsibility and school. Second, Rosh Hashanah is slated for Sunday 9/13. There is no day off the next day for this.
3. Make December 23 a day of school. Maybe a half day, maybe a full day. It has been that way for years. Winter Break has always started on December 24, unless the 23rd falls on a Friday or Monday. Giving 12/23 off just means December 22 will be the low attendance day.
That takes care of 3 of the 4 days. I'm sure another day can be figured out, or extend the school year one day.
It's nice that the school system is trying to accommodate a diverse religious community with 2 days off for Muslim holidays, 1 for Lunar New Year, 2 days for the Jewish faith, and 1 for Hinduism. However, this does not mean they can avoid making decisions by forcing everyone to the unpopular position of returning to school a week earlier than previously announced.

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I agree with the first two but NO towards school on December 23. If anything that break should be two weeks like all states south and west of Maryland but if not at least have December 23 off so people can have 1 day to travel before Christmas Eve without being absent. The less school that week the better since it is a low quality week anyways. Starting school August 25 isn't a week earlier then previously announced but a week earlier then school traditionally starts when Labor Day is September 7. In 2009, 2015 and 2020 the last 3 years Labor Day was September 7 school started August 31. Yeah I know you'll say that the break was December 24-January 1 but that December 21-23 week was useless anyways. It's only to count towards the 180 day requirement. Moving the requirement to 175-177 can help eliminate that useless week but do not open school December 23 again since it's non productive and starts break too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why they should count hours and not days.

They do this in various states that do an equivalent to 180 days like Virginia, Georgia and Florida. Maryland is still stuck with a precise calendar day requirement which is outdated with the new holidays. Nobody needs to hold useless school days Christmas week or in late June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will Maryland get rid of Easter Monday?

What about Good Friday and election day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why they should count hours and not days.

What happened to the legislation advancing that idea?

Didnt advance in the Senate I believe.

Raising taxes and reducing the number of school days doesn't mix.

Raising taxes=BOO
Reducing school days=save time and money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why they should count hours and not days.

What happened to the legislation advancing that idea?

Didnt advance in the Senate I believe.

Raising taxes and reducing the number of school days doesn't mix.

Raising taxes=BOO
Reducing school days=save time and money

yes, it costs less to provide less education. however, they want a tax increase for schools even if they reduce the number of school days required.