Hogan's Exec Order and the last day of school

[Anonymous]

I have heard (and read) that the MCPS's screwed up school calendar is due to Hogan's EO. Our schools now open after Labor day, but we were unable to push our last day of school out a week to accommodate that to get our 180 days. I looked at the Frederick County MD school calendar and their last day of school is June 21st. Howard County also has a last day of school on the 21st. MCPS is June 14th. Why have we not been able to change the last day to the 21st? I looked at next year's (2019-2020) calendar and we are still on a compressed calendar. What gives? Any experts out there that know the answer?

[Anonymous]

Possibly because mcps had teacher work days to take away before and get added days on to the year?

[Anonymous]

Some counties that are not as disfavored by the current governor got waivers. Also the legislature I believe passed a law saying that you can make up snow days after June 15 and the governor accepted/did not veto it. Maybe the Frederick and HoCo schedules added the make-up days to the end but are not their original schedule? I think the law about the snow days passed after this year’s calendar was developed, so some people do not like late changes to it.

[Anonymous]

The situation isn’t all on Hogan, MCPS has new days off such as for the Eid holiday. Between the late start, holidays and staff days, the MCPS calendar is a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The situation isn’t all on Hogan, MCPS has new days off such as for the Eid holiday. Between the late start, holidays and staff days, the MCPS calendar is a mess.

Maybe MCPS could start after all the religious hollidays in September so students can focus on learning. Just add one or two hours to each school day.

[Anonymous]

Would you really want to go to school until June 21??? After Memorial Day, most kids are done with school. It’s hard to stay motivated that far into June. I hope we never extend our school year that far into June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some counties that are not as disfavored by the current governor got waivers. Also the legislature I believe passed a law saying that you can make up snow days after June 15 and the governor accepted/did not veto it. Maybe the Frederick and HoCo schedules added the make-up days to the end but are not their original schedule? I think the law about the snow days passed after this year’s calendar was developed, so some people do not like late changes to it.

This is the first time I have heard MoCo requested a waiver for the 18-19 year and it was denied and all the other counties request were approved. I couldn’t find anything on google. Do you have a link?

I’m aware of the law change and MoCo school board not changing the schedule, but it sounds like your first sentence is referenced to something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you really want to go to school until June 21??? After Memorial Day, most kids are done with school. It’s hard to stay motivated that far into June. I hope we never extend our school year that far into June.

Only low performing students are without motivation, as they are throughout the school year. Ask the high achieving students - they would like to have extended school year so that they can continue to learn. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[Anonymous]

How is June 21 too late to go to school? Haha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The situation isn’t all on Hogan, MCPS has new days off such as for the Eid holiday. Between the late start, holidays and staff days, the MCPS calendar is a mess.

Maybe MCPS could start after all the religious hollidays in September so students can focus on learning. Just add one or two hours to each school day.

State law is based on days, not hours.

Also, guess how many "staff days" there are in the calendar this year?

[Anonymous]

I personally would prefer to be on break in late June instead of late August when it is so hot and humid.
Still I am more mad about the shortened Spring break than the start and end dates for the year

[Anonymous]

The Exec Order says school has to end by June 15. Last spring, the legislature passed a law that allows the school year to extend beyond that if additional days are needed because of inclement weather (so, snow make-up days can go beyond June 15, but the regular calendar can't).

MCPS did not adjust the previously approved 2018-19 calendar (this year's) after the legislation passed, which is why we aren't currently adding on days after June 15. Perhaps this is because they didn't want to change it after the lengthy approval process. Other counties did adjust their calendars after the legislation passed, which is why some of them are going beyond June 15 this year.

Next year's MCPS calendar (2019-20) actually does have makeup days listed after June 15, going out to June 22, but the planned last day of school is scheduled for June 15: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/calendar/0218.19ct_2019-20_SchoolYearCalendar_ADOPTED.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you really want to go to school until June 21??? After Memorial Day, most kids are done with school. It’s hard to stay motivated that far into June. I hope we never extend our school year that far into June.

Only low performing students are without motivation, as they are throughout the school year. Ask the high achieving students - they would like to have extended school year so that they can continue to learn. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

High School kids in APs need the time before the exams not after. High School really winds down in May regardless of the calendar. 2 weeks of disruption for AP exams followed by State testing. The Seniors leave at the end of May. I know this is hard for parents of young kids to grasp. I didn't get it either but now I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Exec Order says school has to end by June 15. Last spring, the legislature passed a law that allows the school year to extend beyond that if additional days are needed because of inclement weather (so, snow make-up days can go beyond June 15, but the regular calendar can't).

MCPS did not adjust the previously approved 2018-19 calendar (this year's) after the legislation passed, which is why we aren't currently adding on days after June 15. Perhaps this is because they didn't want to change it after the lengthy approval process. Other counties did adjust their calendars after the legislation passed, which is why some of them are going beyond June 15 this year.

Next year's MCPS calendar (2019-20) actually does have makeup days listed after June 15, going out to June 22, but the planned last day of school is scheduled for June 15: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/calendar/0218.19ct_2019-20_SchoolYearCalendar_ADOPTED.pdf

If they had, DCUM would have complained: we've made plans, they need to stick with the calendar they already approved!

But since they didn't, DCUM is complaining: why didn't they adjust the calendar?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you really want to go to school until June 21??? After Memorial Day, most kids are done with school. It’s hard to stay motivated that far into June. I hope we never extend our school year that far into June.

Only low performing students are without motivation, as they are throughout the school year. Ask the high achieving students - they would like to have extended school year so that they can continue to learn. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

It’s not that low performing students aren’t motivated. I hate this attitude. It makes people give up on them. They generally have difficulties learning in a traditional environment, and they don’t have the resources that we do to help their child find their best fit and best accommodations. Many of their parents don’t even know how to start that conversation.