Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw on the MCPS FB post about this someone said they chose this day because if they end school on a Monday, they are able to request a waiver for any additional days, per state law. That seems very odd that that is the only way to request a waiver. Anyone know how to read the MD state policy on this?

Can you post the language?

Facebook comment was: For those confused by the decision to add a day at the end of the year instead of another make up day, perhaps this explains it… if the 180th day of the school year is a Monday it becomes eligible for a waiver.

I couldn't find it through Google, so I asked Chat GPT. Below is what it said. I still don't think I understand. This reasoning would make sense if it applies to a Friday to me more than a Monday. And it just encourages school districts to game the system and schedule the last day for a Monday in order to avoid make-up days. Chat GPT response:

Yes, there is a specific regulation in Maryland law regarding the 180th day of school that allows for a bit of flexibility in the case that the final school day of the year falls on a Monday.
This is covered under COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations), specifically COMAR 13A.02.04.01, which governs school year scheduling and the number of required instructional days.

The Rule for the 180th Day on a Monday:

• If the 180th day of school falls on a Monday, school districts may request a waiver to extend the school year by one additional day (i.e., to make it a total of 181 days). This is in case they need additional time due to weather-related closures or other missed days.
• This flexibility essentially acknowledges that districts may not have enough time to make up for missed days before the last Monday of the scheduled school year, which typically would mark the 180th day.
• This provision allows districts to make up for lost instructional time by extending the school year by one more day if the 180th day falls on a Monday.

Why This Happens:

• If the 180th day falls on a Monday and additional time is required (e.g., due to snow days or other closures), districts would not be able to meet the 180-day requirement by just extending the school year one day (as they normally would in cases where the 180th day falls later in the week).
• The waiver allows the district to use Monday as the final day if they absolutely need to extend the school year to make up for missed days, giving them some leeway.
Other Considerations:
• For most other cases where the 180th day is on any day of the week other than Monday, districts must meet the 180 days or hours requirement, and typically, no waiver is necessary unless there is a significant emergency or public health situation (e.g., a severe storm, health crisis, etc.).
• If the school year ends on a Monday and there’s an ongoing need to extend the year or adjust instructional hours, districts can request a waiver for additional days or hours from MSDE, as needed.

In Summary:

If the 180th day falls on a Monday, Maryland law does allow districts to request a waiver to extend the school year by one day to accommodate make-up time. In all other cases, the school must meet the 180-day requirement, and waivers for additional days can only be requested for extreme situations that prevent the district from meeting the minimum instructional time.

Anonymous wrote:They should be using January 29 (next Wednesday) instead of June 16!
A. It's soon after the closures
B. It's less than a month after the winter break C. School is already being held the rest of the week
D. It's listed as the first makeup day

If January 29 is used and March 31 and June 6 are reserved for the next 2 closures, school might not have to be held the week of June 16 unless there are 7+ closures.
Closures 1 and 2 no makeup days
Closure 3 makeup January 29
Closure 4 makeup March 31
Closure 5 makeup June 6
Closure 6 makeup June 16, however that is a Monday and some thing says the state would waive the makeup day of the last day would be on a Monday.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should be using January 29 (next Wednesday) instead of June 16!
A. It's soon after the closures
B. It's less than a month after the winter break C. School is already being held the rest of the week
D. It's listed as the first makeup day

If January 29 is used and March 31 and June 6 are reserved for the next 2 closures, school might not have to be held the week of June 16 unless there are 7+ closures.
Closures 1 and 2 no makeup days
Closure 3 makeup January 29
Closure 4 makeup March 31
Closure 5 makeup June 6
Closure 6 makeup June 16, however that is a Monday and some thing says the state would waive the makeup day of the last day would be on a Monday.

And when should teachers finalize grades and generate report cards. It is several hours of work not including grading.

I'm a teacher and it does not take several hours to finalize grades. Once assignments are graded, we click a submit button for each section of students we teach. We are not required to give comments at the end of the quarter, so I cannot honestly imagine what would take longer than that. Keep in mind that snow make-up days can be scheduled as early release so that the day is made up AND teachers get a couple of hours to finalize grades.

My school requires the WSH comments at the end of each marking period.

If my admin did not require that teachers accept work after the deadline, I could finish grades in a couple of hours after school. Instead, I really do grade all day. This was not the case before 2020. I used to finish grades by 9 AM and go to Dr appts.

What are WSH comments? I don't think I've ever seen comments on either of my kids' report cards--I didn't realize commenting was even an option for teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should be using January 29 (next Wednesday) instead of June 16!
A. It's soon after the closures
B. It's less than a month after the winter break C. School is already being held the rest of the week
D. It's listed as the first makeup day

If January 29 is used and March 31 and June 6 are reserved for the next 2 closures, school might not have to be held the week of June 16 unless there are 7+ closures.
Closures 1 and 2 no makeup days
Closure 3 makeup January 29
Closure 4 makeup March 31
Closure 5 makeup June 6
Closure 6 makeup June 16, however that is a Monday and some thing says the state would waive the makeup day of the last day would be on a Monday.

And when should teachers finalize grades and generate report cards. It is several hours of work not including grading.

I'm a teacher and it does not take several hours to finalize grades. Once assignments are graded, we click a submit button for each section of students we teach. We are not required to give comments at the end of the quarter, so I cannot honestly imagine what would take longer than that. Keep in mind that snow make-up days can be scheduled as early release so that the day is made up AND teachers get a couple of hours to finalize grades.

My school requires the WSH comments at the end of each marking period.

If my admin did not require that teachers accept work after the deadline, I could finish grades in a couple of hours after school. Instead, I really do grade all day. This was not the case before 2020. I used to finish grades by 9 AM and go to Dr appts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw on the MCPS FB post about this someone said they chose this day because if they end school on a Monday, they are able to request a waiver for any additional days, per state law. That seems very odd that that is the only way to request a waiver. Anyone know how to read the MD state policy on this?

Can you post the language?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should be using January 29 (next Wednesday) instead of June 16!
A. It's soon after the closures
B. It's less than a month after the winter break C. School is already being held the rest of the week
D. It's listed as the first makeup day

If January 29 is used and March 31 and June 6 are reserved for the next 2 closures, school might not have to be held the week of June 16 unless there are 7+ closures.
Closures 1 and 2 no makeup days
Closure 3 makeup January 29
Closure 4 makeup March 31
Closure 5 makeup June 6
Closure 6 makeup June 16, however that is a Monday and some thing says the state would waive the makeup day of the last day would be on a Monday.

And when should teachers finalize grades and generate report cards. It is several hours of work not including grading.

I'm a teacher and it does not take several hours to finalize grades. Once assignments are graded, we click a submit button for each section of students we teach. We are not required to give comments at the end of the quarter, so I cannot honestly imagine what would take longer than that. Keep in mind that snow make-up days can be scheduled as early release so that the day is made up AND teachers get a couple of hours to finalize grades.

My school requires the WSH comments at the end of each marking period.

If my admin did not require that teachers accept work after the deadline, I could finish grades in a couple of hours after school. Instead, I really do grade all day. This was not the case before 2020. I used to finish grades by 9 AM and go to Dr appts.

Anonymous wrote:I saw on the MCPS FB post about this someone said they chose this day because if they end school on a Monday, they are able to request a waiver for any additional days, per state law. That seems very odd that that is the only way to request a waiver. Anyone know how to read the MD state policy on this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think make up days is a stupid idea. So there are 1-2 days less of school this year. Whatever. Time to move on

People complain about the poor quality of educational performance, but are always looking to keep their kids out of school. Perhaps examine your priorities.

So students should go to school on last day that too an early dismissal day to do what exactly? To socialize? Get their yearbooks signed, clean locker, be feed if buying/getting free or reduced lunch, say bye to peers they won't see over summer and teachers, ride the yellow cheese bus? Build in more days off throughout year to makeup during school year instead of in June.

Start week before labor day. That one week is to settle into new schedules and school.

Days off for fall time holidays.

Give a few days off before Quarter 2.

2 weeks off for winter break (that's about 10 weekdays and X-mas or New Year's could be two of those days if doesn't fall on weekend).

Few days off before Q3.

At least 10 days off for Spring break.

Summer break does not need to be 10/11 weeks long. 8/9 weeks off so there's more time during school year for schools to close.

It's not rocket science.

They already start the week before Labor Day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should be using January 29 (next Wednesday) instead of June 16!
A. It's soon after the closures
B. It's less than a month after the winter break C. School is already being held the rest of the week
D. It's listed as the first makeup day

If January 29 is used and March 31 and June 6 are reserved for the next 2 closures, school might not have to be held the week of June 16 unless there are 7+ closures.
Closures 1 and 2 no makeup days
Closure 3 makeup January 29
Closure 4 makeup March 31
Closure 5 makeup June 6
Closure 6 makeup June 16, however that is a Monday and some thing says the state would waive the makeup day of the last day would be on a Monday.

And when should teachers finalize grades and generate report cards. It is several hours of work not including grading.

I'm a teacher and it does not take several hours to finalize grades. Once assignments are graded, we click a submit button for each section of students we teach. We are not required to give comments at the end of the quarter, so I cannot honestly imagine what would take longer than that. Keep in mind that snow make-up days can be scheduled as early release so that the day is made up AND teachers get a couple of hours to finalize grades.

Anonymous wrote:No I won’t make my kids go. We all know nothing will be taught. Let the teachers hs r a day of peace to pack up their classrooms and they can put a movie on for the 2 kids that show up. And the state will be satisfied and we will all move on.

I wonder if this is problematic for summer camps using school grounds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should be using January 29 (next Wednesday) instead of June 16!
A. It's soon after the closures
B. It's less than a month after the winter break C. School is already being held the rest of the week
D. It's listed as the first makeup day

If January 29 is used and March 31 and June 6 are reserved for the next 2 closures, school might not have to be held the week of June 16 unless there are 7+ closures.
Closures 1 and 2 no makeup days
Closure 3 makeup January 29
Closure 4 makeup March 31
Closure 5 makeup June 6
Closure 6 makeup June 16, however that is a Monday and some thing says the state would waive the makeup day of the last day would be on a Monday.

And when should teachers finalize grades and generate report cards. It is several hours of work not including grading.