Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS sent staff a letter today stating that April 15 will now be a half day.

I’m glad the union relented on that. I wonder why they haven’t let parents know yet?

Anonymous wrote:MCPS sent staff a letter today stating that April 15 will now be a half day.

Anonymous wrote:The Union rep at our school said that the original last day was June 17 (half day), so now they will make June 17 full day, June 18 a 1/2 day and add back either April 6, April 15 or May 27. May 27 seems the least likely since it goes back to the original issue with March 20 (Eid). April 6 is pretty soon so they better figure this out so people can adjust plans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Union rep at our school said that the original last day was June 17 (half day), so now they will make June 17 full day, June 18 a 1/2 day and add back either April 6, April 15 or May 27. May 27 seems the least likely since it goes back to the original issue with March 20 (Eid). April 6 is pretty soon so they better figure this out so people can adjust plans.

Did they say MCPS told the union that?

Anonymous wrote:The Union rep at our school said that the original last day was June 17 (half day), so now they will make June 17 full day, June 18 a 1/2 day and add back either April 6, April 15 or May 27. May 27 seems the least likely since it goes back to the original issue with March 20 (Eid). April 6 is pretty soon so they better figure this out so people can adjust plans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's HB 1084 and was referred to the Senate committee on 2/27

Yes, we know, but has anyone heard anything from our state senators or anyone else knowledgeable regarding the outlook and timing for this in the Senate?

It is not scheduled for a hearing for another two weeks, so will not be resolved anytime soon: https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB1084/2026

Does anyone know if this timeline means the Senate is likely intentionally slow-walking it and it's not going to pass? Or would they just not have a hearing at all if they wanted to kill it?

I sure hope that's the case. MCPS should not be let off the hook for its terrible planning.

Yes, let's punish all the people affected by this that had absolutely nothing to do with it,just to stick it to MCPS! Are you 10 years old?

Holding school days is "punishment"?

+1 What a rotten attitude about the value of school. I want my kids to makeup the 5 days they lost due to snow. Ideally MCPS would learn from the last two years in which it idiotically only put 1 snow day in the calendar, and be more like other Maryland districts that included 3-4 snow days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's HB 1084 and was referred to the Senate committee on 2/27

Yes, we know, but has anyone heard anything from our state senators or anyone else knowledgeable regarding the outlook and timing for this in the Senate?

It is not scheduled for a hearing for another two weeks, so will not be resolved anytime soon: https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB1084/2026

Does anyone know if this timeline means the Senate is likely intentionally slow-walking it and it's not going to pass? Or would they just not have a hearing at all if they wanted to kill it?

I sure hope that's the case. MCPS should not be let off the hook for its terrible planning.

Yes, let's punish all the people affected by this that had absolutely nothing to do with it,just to stick it to MCPS! Are you 10 years old?

Holding school days is "punishment"?

+1 What a rotten attitude about the value of school. I want my kids to makeup the 5 days they lost due to snow. Ideally MCPS would learn from the last two years in which it idiotically only put 1 snow day in the calendar, and be more like other Maryland districts that included 3-4 snow days.

Why would they do that? This outcome is great for MCPS staff. They get an extra week of paid vacation, and central office can wring their hands helplessly and say who could have predicted that we would have more than 1 snow day while our kids get shortchanged days of instruction (again). Meanwhile 2/3 of MCPS kids can't do math at grade level, and 1/2 can't read at grade level.

This is why parents need to get involved. Call your senator. Testify. MCPS put in its legislative priorities that it wants to permanently remove the 180 day requirement--which is what this bill would have done as introduced.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's HB 1084 and was referred to the Senate committee on 2/27

Yes, we know, but has anyone heard anything from our state senators or anyone else knowledgeable regarding the outlook and timing for this in the Senate?

It is not scheduled for a hearing for another two weeks, so will not be resolved anytime soon: https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB1084/2026

Does anyone know if this timeline means the Senate is likely intentionally slow-walking it and it's not going to pass? Or would they just not have a hearing at all if they wanted to kill it?

I sure hope that's the case. MCPS should not be let off the hook for its terrible planning.

Yes, let's punish all the people affected by this that had absolutely nothing to do with it,just to stick it to MCPS! Are you 10 years old?

Holding school days is "punishment"?

+1 What a rotten attitude about the value of school. I want my kids to makeup the 5 days they lost due to snow. Ideally MCPS would learn from the last two years in which it idiotically only put 1 snow day in the calendar, and be more like other Maryland districts that included 3-4 snow days.

Why would they do that? This outcome is great for MCPS staff. They get an extra week of paid vacation, and central office can wring their hands helplessly and say who could have predicted that we would have more than 1 snow day while our kids get shortchanged days of instruction (again). Meanwhile 2/3 of MCPS kids can't do math at grade level, and 1/2 can't read at grade level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a link to the 2026 BOE/MCPS legislative priorities: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/boe/meetings/memorandum/09/uploadedfiles/boe/meetings/memorandum/2026_legislativeplatform_final.pdf

Document below. NB: HS are required to have 1,170 hours of instruction. The 1,080 applies to ES/MS.

Priority Issue
Minimum Instructional Time Requirements
State law requires schools to provide at least 180 days and 1,080 instructional hours each school year. A waiver process exists for schools that meet the hour requirement but fall short of 180 days, due to natural disasters, civil emergencies, or severe weather.

In the 2024–2025 school year, winter weather closures resulted in MCPS being able to meet the 1,080-hour requirement but fall short of the 180-day minimum. The school system sought a waiver, which was denied. Therefore, MCPS had to extend the school year by two half-days – Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17 – at
more than $1.75 million for personnel costs alone. There were additional costs associated with simply keeping the facilities operational for two extra days. Absenteeism among students and staff was unusually high on those days, resulting in little instructional value for an outsized financial cost.

Allowing MCPS to meet either the 180-day or the 1,080-hour requirement – rather than both – would have avoided this unnecessary expense. Therefore, the Montgomery County Board of Education plans to pursue a local bill permitting compliance through either the minimum number of days or hours.

But how do they meet 1170 hours for high school then?

Anonymous wrote:Here is a link to the 2026 BOE/MCPS legislative priorities: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/boe/meetings/memorandum/09/uploadedfiles/boe/meetings/memorandum/2026_legislativeplatform_final.pdf

Document below. NB: HS are required to have 1,170 hours of instruction. The 1,080 applies to ES/MS.

Priority Issue
Minimum Instructional Time Requirements
State law requires schools to provide at least 180 days and 1,080 instructional hours each school year. A waiver process exists for schools that meet the hour requirement but fall short of 180 days, due to natural disasters, civil emergencies, or severe weather.

In the 2024–2025 school year, winter weather closures resulted in MCPS being able to meet the 1,080-hour requirement but fall short of the 180-day minimum. The school system sought a waiver, which was denied. Therefore, MCPS had to extend the school year by two half-days – Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17 – at
more than $1.75 million for personnel costs alone. There were additional costs associated with simply keeping the facilities operational for two extra days. Absenteeism among students and staff was unusually high on those days, resulting in little instructional value for an outsized financial cost.

Allowing MCPS to meet either the 180-day or the 1,080-hour requirement – rather than both – would have avoided this unnecessary expense. Therefore, the Montgomery County Board of Education plans to pursue a local bill permitting compliance through either the minimum number of days or hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's HB 1084 and was referred to the Senate committee on 2/27

Yes, we know, but has anyone heard anything from our state senators or anyone else knowledgeable regarding the outlook and timing for this in the Senate?

It is not scheduled for a hearing for another two weeks, so will not be resolved anytime soon: https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB1084/2026

Does anyone know if this timeline means the Senate is likely intentionally slow-walking it and it's not going to pass? Or would they just not have a hearing at all if they wanted to kill it?

I sure hope that's the case. MCPS should not be let off the hook for its terrible planning.

Yes, let's punish all the people affected by this that had absolutely nothing to do with it,just to stick it to MCPS! Are you 10 years old?

Holding school days is "punishment"?

+1 What a rotten attitude about the value of school. I want my kids to makeup the 5 days they lost due to snow. Ideally MCPS would learn from the last two years in which it idiotically only put 1 snow day in the calendar, and be more like other Maryland districts that included 3-4 snow days.

Why would they do that? This outcome is great for MCPS staff. They get an extra week of paid vacation, and central office can wring their hands helplessly and say who could have predicted that we would have more than 1 snow day while our kids get shortchanged days of instruction (again). Meanwhile 2/3 of MCPS kids can't do math at grade level, and 1/2 can't read at grade level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's HB 1084 and was referred to the Senate committee on 2/27

Yes, we know, but has anyone heard anything from our state senators or anyone else knowledgeable regarding the outlook and timing for this in the Senate?

It is not scheduled for a hearing for another two weeks, so will not be resolved anytime soon: https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB1084/2026

Does anyone know if this timeline means the Senate is likely intentionally slow-walking it and it's not going to pass? Or would they just not have a hearing at all if they wanted to kill it?

I sure hope that's the case. MCPS should not be let off the hook for its terrible planning.

Yes, let's punish all the people affected by this that had absolutely nothing to do with it,just to stick it to MCPS! Are you 10 years old?

Holding school days is "punishment"?

+1 What a rotten attitude about the value of school. I want my kids to makeup the 5 days they lost due to snow. Ideally MCPS would learn from the last two years in which it idiotically only put 1 snow day in the calendar, and be more like other Maryland districts that included 3-4 snow days.