Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:no virtual plan "back in the day". Didn't you turn out okay? It doesn't seem like anyone wants to stay in school until July rho. If schools remain open until end of June, move the spring testing season two weeks later so missed instructional time can be made up before then. Can't students complete mcap and map-m/r and other testing in June instead of March or May? AP and IB test dates are set ahead of time.

They’d send home assignments.

I don’t recall any assignments being mailed home back in the day when we had extended closures for weather. We either made up the days or the state granted a waiver.

I do recall summer homework packets, but those have also be eliminated for many grade levels or nerfed into suggestions rather than a significant part of the first quarter grade.

Anonymous wrote:It should be used only in cases of extended school closing and it should consist mainly of review material with little to no expectation of new material. It should be used to keep student skills sharp.

Busy work, then. Got it.

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is claiming they can't do a virtual plan because not every school is a 1:1 device school. I don't know if that's true, but that's what they're claiming.

Virtual learning is not a solution for elementary, in part because we know that 1:1 devices that go home aren't healthy for elementary schoolers, and in part because many kids that age spend their snow days at day camps, or with not-tech savvy grandparents, or at home loosely supervised while adults are working virtually.

The school system should allow (but not require) middle school and high school teachers to continue to give assignments, if they feel it's appropriate for the pacing of their classes, particularly AP and IB. Students should have some flexibility on when they submit those assignments in case they have snow day responsibilities like childcare for younger siblings.

Homework done under this system should not be counted as days in school, and schools should continue to have to make up days when they are closed.

Anonymous wrote:Virtual learning was a disaster and should not be repeated, ever. MCPS should build kore snow days into the calendar (which would be the same thing as going later or attending earlier, unless you want them to get rid of necessary breaks - they are not allowed to have school on some holidays, did you know Easter Monday was a Maryland requirement to have off?).

The result is the same - more days of school, same as we are going to get because of the snow storm

Virtual learning was a disaster, but I wouldn't necessarily rule it out as a temporary measure for a truly exceptional event like covid.

But, snow isn't exceptional. It happens every winter. Virtual isn't necessary or appropriate when competent leadership can plan for this with a combination of more built-in days and real contingency days.

Thankfully my HS students are better with their chromebooks than my middle schoolers were last year. I think the final tally at our middle school was like 480 broken or lost Chromebooks for the year. The worst was the TikTok video that taught kids how to set them on fire.

Virtual learning was a disaster and should not be repeated, ever. MCPS should build kore snow days into the calendar (which would be the same thing as going later or attending earlier, unless you want them to get rid of necessary breaks - they are not allowed to have school on some holidays, did you know Easter Monday was a Maryland requirement to have off?).

The result is the same - more days of school, same as we are going to get because of the snow storm

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Anonymous wrote:When are they going to make this a priority to get the plan submitted?

At the rate they move, I doubt they'll even have it approved by winter 2027. They have to do public consultations, and if one parent complains, they'll say they had parental opposition and won't do anything. Because that's their preference anyway.

Are you saying that no parents complain in the other counties, such as in Anne Arundel?

Of course they do. And I'm sure they have kids younger than grade 3 and with special needs in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and PG County, yet somehow the state of Maryland approved the virtual learning plans they submitted.

But these are all the excuses DCUM gives as to why MCPS can't have a virtual learning plan for snow emergencies, and MCPS does like to make a lot of excuses for its inaction.

The lack of 1:1 devices in all schools is not an excuse DCUM came up with. It's straight from the horse's mouth: https://mocoshow.com/2026/01/29/mcps-explains-why-snow-days-are-not-virtual-learning-days/

According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option during these closures for several key reasons tied to access, timing, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent many students from participating fully in instruction.

Mcps has enough devices.

Different media specialist here (who knew this is where we all hang out). Elementary schools are nearly all on the cart model, where every classroom has a cart of Chromebooks for student use. Students may request a Chromebook for home use — it takes a couple of weeks usually — and that one is supposed to come out of the general county supply, NOT off of a classroom cart. For every elementary student to get one at home and at school we would actually need 2:1. And I know from Covid experience that if we send Chromebooks from the carts home we will likely never get about half of them back.

One of the many reasons that virtual simply doesn't work for elementary kids.

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Anonymous wrote:When are they going to make this a priority to get the plan submitted?

At the rate they move, I doubt they'll even have it approved by winter 2027. They have to do public consultations, and if one parent complains, they'll say they had parental opposition and won't do anything. Because that's their preference anyway.

Are you saying that no parents complain in the other counties, such as in Anne Arundel?

Of course they do. And I'm sure they have kids younger than grade 3 and with special needs in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and PG County, yet somehow the state of Maryland approved the virtual learning plans they submitted.

But these are all the excuses DCUM gives as to why MCPS can't have a virtual learning plan for snow emergencies, and MCPS does like to make a lot of excuses for its inaction.

The lack of 1:1 devices in all schools is not an excuse DCUM came up with. It's straight from the horse's mouth: https://mocoshow.com/2026/01/29/mcps-explains-why-snow-days-are-not-virtual-learning-days/

According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option during these closures for several key reasons tied to access, timing, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent many students from participating fully in instruction.

Mcps has enough devices.

Different media specialist here (who knew this is where we all hang out). Elementary schools are nearly all on the cart model, where every classroom has a cart of Chromebooks for student use. Students may request a Chromebook for home use — it takes a couple of weeks usually — and that one is supposed to come out of the general county supply, NOT off of a classroom cart. For every elementary student to get one at home and at school we would actually need 2:1. And I know from Covid experience that if we send Chromebooks from the carts home we will likely never get about half of them back.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When are they going to make this a priority to get the plan submitted?

At the rate they move, I doubt they'll even have it approved by winter 2027. They have to do public consultations, and if one parent complains, they'll say they had parental opposition and won't do anything. Because that's their preference anyway.

Are you saying that no parents complain in the other counties, such as in Anne Arundel?

Of course they do. And I'm sure they have kids younger than grade 3 and with special needs in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and PG County, yet somehow the state of Maryland approved the virtual learning plans they submitted.

But these are all the excuses DCUM gives as to why MCPS can't have a virtual learning plan for snow emergencies, and MCPS does like to make a lot of excuses for its inaction.

The lack of 1:1 devices in all schools is not an excuse DCUM came up with. It's straight from the horse's mouth: https://mocoshow.com/2026/01/29/mcps-explains-why-snow-days-are-not-virtual-learning-days/

According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option during these closures for several key reasons tied to access, timing, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent many students from participating fully in instruction.

Mcps has enough devices.

Mcps media specialist here. Mcps has really screwed up their entire approach to Chromebooks. There have been so many issues with bad record keeping, backlogs on broken Chromebooks, not doing inventory of Chromebooks. I could rant about it for a while. It's been terribly mismanaged. Whenever a child damages their Chromebook we are supposed to Bill them but there's no way to actually compel the parents to pay, they just don't get a new one. Theoretically these kids will not be able to a diploma in a decade or whatever they still owe the school money but my guess is that bill will get waived.

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Anonymous wrote:Some new material can be covered depending on length of school closing

At the risk of drawing the wrath of some people, it's really unrealistic to expect the introduction of new material during online learning in these events. Many students may be tasked with child care for younger siblings, be at risk of power outages, have to assist with snow removal/cleanup, etc. If you introduce new material it just forces teachers to potentially waste time having to teach this material twice when it can be done much more efficiently and effectively, one time in person. Maybe you can introduce the next chapter, but I would avoid having any discussion or graded assignments on that new material during these extended closure distance learning days.

What about for AP Physics C and Multivariable? How many of those kids won’t be able to log in? Do they really have to stick to review?

Hs kids all have chromebooks

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Anonymous wrote:When are they going to make this a priority to get the plan submitted?

At the rate they move, I doubt they'll even have it approved by winter 2027. They have to do public consultations, and if one parent complains, they'll say they had parental opposition and won't do anything. Because that's their preference anyway.

Are you saying that no parents complain in the other counties, such as in Anne Arundel?

Of course they do. And I'm sure they have kids younger than grade 3 and with special needs in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and PG County, yet somehow the state of Maryland approved the virtual learning plans they submitted.

But these are all the excuses DCUM gives as to why MCPS can't have a virtual learning plan for snow emergencies, and MCPS does like to make a lot of excuses for its inaction.

The lack of 1:1 devices in all schools is not an excuse DCUM came up with. It's straight from the horse's mouth: https://mocoshow.com/2026/01/29/mcps-explains-why-snow-days-are-not-virtual-learning-days/

According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option during these closures for several key reasons tied to access, timing, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent many students from participating fully in instruction.

Mcps has enough devices.

Anonymous wrote:no virtual plan "back in the day". Didn't you turn out okay? It doesn't seem like anyone wants to stay in school until July rho. If schools remain open until end of June, move the spring testing season two weeks later so missed instructional time can be made up before then. Can't students complete mcap and map-m/r and other testing in June instead of March or May? AP and IB test dates are set ahead of time.

They’d send home assignments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When are they going to make this a priority to get the plan submitted?

The priority should be NOT doing one.

MCPS has been NOT doing a plan for virtual learning during snow emergencies for the last two years when it promised it would. Other school districts have.

MCPS has made the right decision on that. Shocking, I know, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Maybe for you, but not the kids or other families.

no virtual plan "back in the day". Didn't you turn out okay? It doesn't seem like anyone wants to stay in school until July rho. If schools remain open until end of June, move the spring testing season two weeks later so missed instructional time can be made up before then. Can't students complete mcap and map-m/r and other testing in June instead of March or May? AP and IB test dates are set ahead of time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When are they going to make this a priority to get the plan submitted?

The priority should be NOT doing one.

MCPS has been NOT doing a plan for virtual learning during snow emergencies for the last two years when it promised it would. Other school districts have.

MCPS has made the right decision on that. Shocking, I know, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.