2026-2027 calendar updates

[Anonymous]

All Taylor is doing is setting up for the first week of school to be a chaotic failure. Students will be absent and the second week will just turn into a repeat of the first week because teachers will have to go over the same things for the absent students. All of you cheering this on, aren't actually doing any real thinking about the logistics of it all. It's won't be this magical 5 additional instructional days you're imagining. It'll be repetitive for the students there and a waste of time for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knows what they will do. Maybe MCEA is calling Taylor's bluff which I support. If your kid misses the first two days of school, it will be fine, hardly catastrophic if not ideal. I assume it will be worse for the teachers to have kids slowly streaming in the first 3 days of school. Seems like this will mean starting off with 2 fewer days of actual instruction. If teachers miss 3 days of preservice, I feel for them and hope they don't lose leave days because of it. Taylor and the BOE have done a lot of stupid things, this is one on a very long list of them.

Of course they will have to take leave if they don’t show up for work.

That sucks because in order to show up many will have to lose money on travel that has been booked or other jobs. I don't know about you but I think that's a 5h!tty way to treat my kid's wonderful teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All Taylor is doing is setting up for the first week of school to be a chaotic failure. Students will be absent and the second week will just turn into a repeat of the first week because teachers will have to go over the same things for the absent students. All of you cheering this on, aren't actually doing any real thinking about the logistics of it all. It's won't be this magical 5 additional instructional days you're imagining. It'll be repetitive for the students there and a waste of time for everyone.

The recommended amendments to the calendar do not include any additional instructional days. They recommend starting the school year 3 days earlier and ending it 3 days earlier.

[Anonymous]

The thing that's so irritating about this is that it's not necessary to cause all this angst.
1. MSDE is not changing requirements for this year at all.
2. There are so many choices that could be made that have a less disruptive impact on the community as a whole.
*Make Transition Day a school day - do traditional have day transition during preservice.
*Make November 9 a school day - occurs the day AFTER Diwali.
*Make the day before Thanksgiving a half day.
*Make December 23 a half day or a full day.
*Make one or two professional days half days. Allow teachers to complete the additional PD asynchronously.
*Make even one or two teacher grading days into half days. Extend due date for grade submission a couple of days beyond quarter to allow extra time.
*Make ALL religious holidays snow make-up days. When the last snow day is used and a make-up is needed, the next make-up day on the calendar is used automatically. This makes it less personal.
*Lobby MSDE to allow schools to provide instruction on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and most certainly in the case of snow make-ups.

None of these choices have as great an impact as bumping the school calendar up a week at this time. And making a number of these changes would create a calendar that flows much more smoothly than the current one while easily fitting 180 days and plenty of snow make-ups within a reasonable window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knows what they will do. Maybe MCEA is calling Taylor's bluff which I support. If your kid misses the first two days of school, it will be fine, hardly catastrophic if not ideal. I assume it will be worse for the teachers to have kids slowly streaming in the first 3 days of school. Seems like this will mean starting off with 2 fewer days of actual instruction. If teachers miss 3 days of preservice, I feel for them and hope they don't lose leave days because of it. Taylor and the BOE have done a lot of stupid things, this is one on a very long list of them.

Of course they will have to take leave if they don’t show up for work.

That sucks because in order to show up many will have to lose money on travel that has been booked or other jobs. I don't know about you but I think that's a 5h!tty way to treat my kid's wonderful teachers.

I hope teachers are pushing MCPS to choose another option, and for the union to negotiate to allow makeups as 1/2 days on grading and reporting. Otherwise they will need to show up as early as Aug 10th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knows what they will do. Maybe MCEA is calling Taylor's bluff which I support. If your kid misses the first two days of school, it will be fine, hardly catastrophic if not ideal. I assume it will be worse for the teachers to have kids slowly streaming in the first 3 days of school. Seems like this will mean starting off with 2 fewer days of actual instruction. If teachers miss 3 days of preservice, I feel for them and hope they don't lose leave days because of it. Taylor and the BOE have done a lot of stupid things, this is one on a very long list of them.

Of course they will have to take leave if they don’t show up for work.

That sucks because in order to show up many will have to lose money on travel that has been booked or other jobs. I don't know about you but I think that's a 5h!tty way to treat my kid's wonderful teachers.

I hope teachers are pushing MCPS to choose another option, and for the union to negotiate to allow makeups as 1/2 days on grading and reporting. Otherwise they will need to show up as early as Aug 10th.

MCEA told teachers there is nothing they can do except fill out the survey, unfortunately. I agree that they could be doing more to push Taylor and the board. But they didn't even poll teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knows what they will do. Maybe MCEA is calling Taylor's bluff which I support. If your kid misses the first two days of school, it will be fine, hardly catastrophic if not ideal. I assume it will be worse for the teachers to have kids slowly streaming in the first 3 days of school. Seems like this will mean starting off with 2 fewer days of actual instruction. If teachers miss 3 days of preservice, I feel for them and hope they don't lose leave days because of it. Taylor and the BOE have done a lot of stupid things, this is one on a very long list of them.

Of course they will have to take leave if they don’t show up for work.

That sucks because in order to show up many will have to lose money on travel that has been booked or other jobs. I don't know about you but I think that's a 5h!tty way to treat my kid's wonderful teachers.

They may have told teachers that, but clearly MCEA has the abilit to negotiate with MCPS on whether they can use grading and reporting as a contingency day -- they could amend that in the contract.

I hope teachers are pushing MCPS to choose another option, and for the union to negotiate to allow makeups as 1/2 days on grading and reporting. Otherwise they will need to show up as early as Aug 10th.

MCEA told teachers there is nothing they can do except fill out the survey, unfortunately. I agree that they could be doing more to push Taylor and the board. But they didn't even poll teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing that's so irritating about this is that it's not necessary to cause all this angst.
1. MSDE is not changing requirements for this year at all.
2. There are so many choices that could be made that have a less disruptive impact on the community as a whole.
*Make Transition Day a school day - do traditional have day transition during preservice.
*Make November 9 a school day - occurs the day AFTER Diwali.
*Make the day before Thanksgiving a half day.
*Make December 23 a half day or a full day.
*Make one or two professional days half days. Allow teachers to complete the additional PD asynchronously.
*Make even one or two teacher grading days into half days. Extend due date for grade submission a couple of days beyond quarter to allow extra time.
*Make ALL religious holidays snow make-up days. When the last snow day is used and a make-up is needed, the next make-up day on the calendar is used automatically. This makes it less personal.
*Lobby MSDE to allow schools to provide instruction on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and most certainly in the case of snow make-ups.

None of these choices have as great an impact as bumping the school calendar up a week at this time. And making a number of these changes would create a calendar that flows much more smoothly than the current one while easily fitting 180 days and plenty of snow make-ups within a reasonable window.

Agree completely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since TT basically only discussed 1 option (moving the start date earlier) at the last BOE meeting, what are the chances he chooses another option? What if the survey results show majority of people don't want to start earlier in August? Will he listen or does he do what he wants? I'm genuinely curious.

Theoretically, it is up to the board to decide, not Taylor. If the survey reveals the majority doesn't want the early start, they have the ability to go with another option. Now, will they exercise that option in reality? Not likely.

They are banking on a huge outcry that forces the union to give up grading days. Union should call TT's bluff. Changing the start of preservice to a time when many teachers will be unable to make it is unworkable and will result in a chaotic start to the school year. MCEA should let TT own that mess.

Survey may say people like the earlier start date. Every high school parent I know thinks the earlier start is a good thing. Kids in AP classes were really at a disadvantage this year with MCPS closed for so many days during a critical period.

That is super surprising because I have actually discussed this with quite a few high school parents in real life lately, from several different schools, all with kids in AP classes. Not a single person I talked to preferred to change the calendar for this August and start earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knows what they will do. Maybe MCEA is calling Taylor's bluff which I support. If your kid misses the first two days of school, it will be fine, hardly catastrophic if not ideal. I assume it will be worse for the teachers to have kids slowly streaming in the first 3 days of school. Seems like this will mean starting off with 2 fewer days of actual instruction. If teachers miss 3 days of preservice, I feel for them and hope they don't lose leave days because of it. Taylor and the BOE have done a lot of stupid things, this is one on a very long list of them.

Of course they will have to take leave if they don’t show up for work.

That sucks because in order to show up many will have to lose money on travel that has been booked or other jobs. I don't know about you but I think that's a 5h!tty way to treat my kid's wonderful teachers.

I hope teachers are pushing MCPS to choose another option, and for the union to negotiate to allow makeups as 1/2 days on grading and reporting. Otherwise they will need to show up as early as Aug 10th.

MCEA told teachers there is nothing they can do except fill out the survey, unfortunately. I agree that they could be doing more to push Taylor and the board. But they didn't even poll teachers.

Please, please remember this the next time someone claims that the teachers union is all powerful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knows what they will do. Maybe MCEA is calling Taylor's bluff which I support. If your kid misses the first two days of school, it will be fine, hardly catastrophic if not ideal. I assume it will be worse for the teachers to have kids slowly streaming in the first 3 days of school. Seems like this will mean starting off with 2 fewer days of actual instruction. If teachers miss 3 days of preservice, I feel for them and hope they don't lose leave days because of it. Taylor and the BOE have done a lot of stupid things, this is one on a very long list of them.

Of course they will have to take leave if they don’t show up for work.

That sucks because in order to show up many will have to lose money on travel that has been booked or other jobs. I don't know about you but I think that's a 5h!tty way to treat my kid's wonderful teachers.

I hope teachers are pushing MCPS to choose another option, and for the union to negotiate to allow makeups as 1/2 days on grading and reporting. Otherwise they will need to show up as early as Aug 10th.

MCEA told teachers there is nothing they can do except fill out the survey, unfortunately. I agree that they could be doing more to push Taylor and the board. But they didn't even poll teachers.

Please, please remember this the next time someone claims that the teachers union is all powerful.

They are. MCEA has made a decision to not advocate for teachers. They have used their power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knows what they will do. Maybe MCEA is calling Taylor's bluff which I support. If your kid misses the first two days of school, it will be fine, hardly catastrophic if not ideal. I assume it will be worse for the teachers to have kids slowly streaming in the first 3 days of school. Seems like this will mean starting off with 2 fewer days of actual instruction. If teachers miss 3 days of preservice, I feel for them and hope they don't lose leave days because of it. Taylor and the BOE have done a lot of stupid things, this is one on a very long list of them.

Of course they will have to take leave if they don’t show up for work.

That sucks because in order to show up many will have to lose money on travel that has been booked or other jobs. I don't know about you but I think that's a 5h!tty way to treat my kid's wonderful teachers.

I hope teachers are pushing MCPS to choose another option, and for the union to negotiate to allow makeups as 1/2 days on grading and reporting. Otherwise they will need to show up as early as Aug 10th.

MCEA told teachers there is nothing they can do except fill out the survey, unfortunately. I agree that they could be doing more to push Taylor and the board. But they didn't even poll teachers.

Please, please remember this the next time someone claims that the teachers union is all powerful.

The union is absolutely involved in this negotiation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing that's so irritating about this is that it's not necessary to cause all this angst.
1. MSDE is not changing requirements for this year at all.
2. There are so many choices that could be made that have a less disruptive impact on the community as a whole.
*Make Transition Day a school day - do traditional have day transition during preservice.
*Make November 9 a school day - occurs the day AFTER Diwali.
*Make the day before Thanksgiving a half day.
*Make December 23 a half day or a full day.
*Make one or two professional days half days. Allow teachers to complete the additional PD asynchronously.
*Make even one or two teacher grading days into half days. Extend due date for grade submission a couple of days beyond quarter to allow extra time.
*Make ALL religious holidays snow make-up days. When the last snow day is used and a make-up is needed, the next make-up day on the calendar is used automatically. This makes it less personal.
*Lobby MSDE to allow schools to provide instruction on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and most certainly in the case of snow make-ups.

None of these choices have as great an impact as bumping the school calendar up a week at this time. And making a number of these changes would create a calendar that flows much more smoothly than the current one while easily fitting 180 days and plenty of snow make-ups within a reasonable window.

Most of that is good except the day before Thanksgiving and December 23 which are useless days to have school. The 2Q and 3Q grading days can be off if not needed but revert to half days possibly two half days if needed. One of Good Friday or Easter Monday could be allowed after a specific number of closures (possibly five).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing that's so irritating about this is that it's not necessary to cause all this angst.
1. MSDE is not changing requirements for this year at all.
2. There are so many choices that could be made that have a less disruptive impact on the community as a whole.
*Make Transition Day a school day - do traditional have day transition during preservice.
*Make November 9 a school day - occurs the day AFTER Diwali.
*Make the day before Thanksgiving a half day.
*Make December 23 a half day or a full day.
*Make one or two professional days half days. Allow teachers to complete the additional PD asynchronously.
*Make even one or two teacher grading days into half days. Extend due date for grade submission a couple of days beyond quarter to allow extra time.
*Make ALL religious holidays snow make-up days. When the last snow day is used and a make-up is needed, the next make-up day on the calendar is used automatically. This makes it less personal.
*Lobby MSDE to allow schools to provide instruction on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and most certainly in the case of snow make-ups.

None of these choices have as great an impact as bumping the school calendar up a week at this time. And making a number of these changes would create a calendar that flows much more smoothly than the current one while easily fitting 180 days and plenty of snow make-ups within a reasonable window.

Agree completely.

Do you really think the day before Thanksgiving or December 23 carries any value or is it just for the number of days game? If the latter it's time for Maryland to change the law. If it's the former, what will get done those days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing that's so irritating about this is that it's not necessary to cause all this angst.
1. MSDE is not changing requirements for this year at all.
2. There are so many choices that could be made that have a less disruptive impact on the community as a whole.
*Make Transition Day a school day - do traditional have day transition during preservice.
*Make November 9 a school day - occurs the day AFTER Diwali.
*Make the day before Thanksgiving a half day.
*Make December 23 a half day or a full day.
*Make one or two professional days half days. Allow teachers to complete the additional PD asynchronously.
*Make even one or two teacher grading days into half days. Extend due date for grade submission a couple of days beyond quarter to allow extra time.
*Make ALL religious holidays snow make-up days. When the last snow day is used and a make-up is needed, the next make-up day on the calendar is used automatically. This makes it less personal.
*Lobby MSDE to allow schools to provide instruction on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and most certainly in the case of snow make-ups.

None of these choices have as great an impact as bumping the school calendar up a week at this time. And making a number of these changes would create a calendar that flows much more smoothly than the current one while easily fitting 180 days and plenty of snow make-ups within a reasonable window.

Agree completely.

Do you really think the day before Thanksgiving or December 23 carries any value or is it just for the number of days game? If the latter it's time for Maryland to change the law. If it's the former, what will get done those days?

DP

It is annoying to have school on those days and many won't show up, but I think it is better to do that than start the school year early. I think how the school year starts matters more than a couple of days that will certainly not be terribly valuable but probably won't be harmful.