Anonymous
04/03/2014 11:34
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
Probably because Fairfax County Public Schools is in Virginia, where the law is different.
And what "law" would that be?
Virginia and Maryland are different states and have different state laws about education.
Here are Maryland's education statutes:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/Statute_Web/ged/ged.pdf
Here are Virginia's: https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC2201000
Thanks for 1000 page document. Can you point me to a page or clause that would prevent MCPS from identifying contingency days in advance. Thanks.
Not the PP, but bottom of page 335-top of 337 talks about public school holidays and that schools "may not be open" on Saturdays, Sundays, or listed public holidays to fill the 180-day requirement. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Presidents' Day, MLK Day, and Memorial Day are identified. Also:
(b) (1) If a county board submits a written application to the State Board that
describes a demonstrated effort by the county board to comply with subsection (a) of this
section, the State Board may permit:
(i) Adjustments in the length of the school year;
(ii) Exceptions from the requirement that the school year be
completed within a 10–month period;
(iii) Adjustments in the length of the school day; and
(iv) Schools to be open on holidays.
(2) These adjustments may be granted only if normal school attendance is
prevented because of:
(i) Natural disaster;
(ii) Civil disaster; or
(iii) Severe weather conditions.
(3) Education funding from State or local sources may not be reduced if
there are less than 180 school days in any year because of an approved application
under this subsection.
(4) In case of emergency, the State Board may open schools on holidays.
To me, this means you can only open on a public holiday by applying for a waiver after the weather event has happened, not as a planned contingency. But I am no lawyer.
Slightly OT, but what's with Easter Monday being a specific school holiday? I don't know of any religious tradiitons requiring observation of Easter Monday as a holiday. it doesn't make any sense to me.
Anonymous
04/03/2014 11:28
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:to 21:49. If you go to Frederick County's and Charles County's schools websites, you'll see that Easter Monday and Presidents Day are in their contingency plans.
MCPS and PGCPS *can* have those days in their contingency plans.
Well, the Frederick County 2014-2015 calendar (approved version) says: "If more than five snow days are used, these dates [including Presidents Day] would be possible snow make-up days.". So yes, those dates are in their contingency plan. But only conditionally.
http://www.fcps.org/Page/843
Anonymous
04/03/2014 11:23
Subject: Waiver approved
to 21:49. If you go to Frederick County's and Charles County's schools websites, you'll see that Easter Monday and Presidents Day are in their contingency plans.
MCPS and PGCPS *can* have those days in their contingency plans.
MCPS and PGCPS *can* have those days in their contingency plans.
Anonymous
04/03/2014 11:15
Subject: Re:Waiver approved
To the above. Correct and MD CAN do this just like Va. MD Just has to say to the state we would like to have school on Presidents day to make up for a snow day.
Its really not any different. Just too late for MD to do it now...
Its really not any different. Just too late for MD to do it now...
Anonymous
04/02/2014 21:49
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
Probably because Fairfax County Public Schools is in Virginia, where the law is different.
And what "law" would that be?
Virginia and Maryland are different states and have different state laws about education.
Here are Maryland's education statutes:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/Statute_Web/ged/ged.pdf
Here are Virginia's: https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC2201000
Thanks for 1000 page document. Can you point me to a page or clause that would prevent MCPS from identifying contingency days in advance. Thanks.
Not the PP, but bottom of page 335-top of 337 talks about public school holidays and that schools "may not be open" on Saturdays, Sundays, or listed public holidays to fill the 180-day requirement. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Presidents' Day, MLK Day, and Memorial Day are identified. Also:
(b) (1) If a county board submits a written application to the State Board that
describes a demonstrated effort by the county board to comply with subsection (a) of this
section, the State Board may permit:
(i) Adjustments in the length of the school year;
(ii) Exceptions from the requirement that the school year be
completed within a 10–month period;
(iii) Adjustments in the length of the school day; and
(iv) Schools to be open on holidays.
(2) These adjustments may be granted only if normal school attendance is
prevented because of:
(i) Natural disaster;
(ii) Civil disaster; or
(iii) Severe weather conditions.
(3) Education funding from State or local sources may not be reduced if
there are less than 180 school days in any year because of an approved application
under this subsection.
(4) In case of emergency, the State Board may open schools on holidays.
To me, this means you can only open on a public holiday by applying for a waiver after the weather event has happened, not as a planned contingency. But I am no lawyer.
Anonymous
04/02/2014 21:13
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
Probably because Fairfax County Public Schools is in Virginia, where the law is different.
And what "law" would that be?
Virginia and Maryland are different states and have different state laws about education.
Here are Maryland's education statutes:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/Statute_Web/ged/ged.pdf
Here are Virginia's: https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC2201000
Thanks for 1000 page document. Can you point me to a page or clause that would prevent MCPS from identifying contingency days in advance. Thanks.
Anonymous
04/02/2014 21:10
Subject: Re:Waiver approved
Since we are going to have school on Easter Monday and maybe 60% of kids will show, this seems like an excellent day to have Open House. Parents here are dubious that quality instruction occurs on any given day in proximity to a break or vacation. Challenge your principal to hold open house.
Anonymous
04/02/2014 21:07
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
I like it and I'm a teacher.
Anonymous
04/02/2014 20:50
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
I have no idea. THAT seems like a fantastic idea. Makes perfect sense.
Anonymous
04/02/2014 20:45
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
Probably because Fairfax County Public Schools is in Virginia, where the law is different.
And what "law" would that be?
Virginia and Maryland are different states and have different state laws about education.
Here are Maryland's education statutes:
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/Statute_Web/ged/ged.pdf
Here are Virginia's: https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC2201000
Anonymous
04/02/2014 20:37
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
Probably because Fairfax County Public Schools is in Virginia, where the law is different.
And what "law" would that be?
Anonymous
04/02/2014 20:33
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
Probably because Fairfax County Public Schools is in Virginia, where the law is different.
Anonymous
04/02/2014 20:32
Subject: Waiver approved
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't mind sending the kids on Easter Monday if I'd known a month or two ago when I was booking plane reservations to go out of town for a week...
Needless to say, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars in change fees along with the difference in cost for airline tickets b/c MCPS just got their act together and got state approval to hold school on Easter Monday.
OK, so don't. That's fine with me (in case you were asking for my approval; but you probably weren't!)
Anonymous
04/02/2014 20:28
Subject: Waiver approved
I wouldn't mind sending the kids on Easter Monday if I'd known a month or two ago when I was booking plane reservations to go out of town for a week...
Needless to say, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars in change fees along with the difference in cost for airline tickets b/c MCPS just got their act together and got state approval to hold school on Easter Monday.
Needless to say, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars in change fees along with the difference in cost for airline tickets b/c MCPS just got their act together and got state approval to hold school on Easter Monday.
Anonymous
04/02/2014 20:08
Subject: Waiver approved
Why can't MCPS do this
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml
http://www.fcps.edu/about/14-15cal.shtml