Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

They can't get the waiver without using all their makeup days. They know this. They are just playing for time so that they have an excuse to add another two half days later in June. It's ridiculous. The last day of school will be June 23, 2026, if there are no more snow days. June 17, 18, 22, and 23 will be half-days.

They don't need to use all of them. They need to use three. Then they can asked for the others to be waived.

They have to use them all, per COMAR: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maryland/COMAR-13A-02-01-04

They have to use the makeup days they identified AND extend the school year by 3 days. It's an and, not an or.

(a) The local school system developed a calendar which included days to be used to make up days lost. Depending upon past experience, this number could range from 3 to 10 days throughout the State. The local school system calendar shall have identified those potential make-up days which could have been used as student days when calendar modification becomes necessary; that is, make-up days, student vacation days, etc.
(b) The local school system has modified its calendar by scheduling school on the make-up days provided in the original calendar and by extending the school year 3 days beyond the previously scheduled closing date.

Using the make-up days is considered extending the calendar. That's how MSDE has been interpreting this. That's why MCPS was able to get the waiver in 2020.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

They can't get the waiver without using all their makeup days. They know this. They are just playing for time so that they have an excuse to add another two half days later in June. It's ridiculous. The last day of school will be June 23, 2026, if there are no more snow days. June 17, 18, 22, and 23 will be half-days.

They don't need to use all of them. They need to use three. Then they can asked for the others to be waived.

They have to use them all, per COMAR: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/maryland/COMAR-13A-02-01-04

They have to use the makeup days they identified AND extend the school year by 3 days. It's an and, not an or.

(a) The local school system developed a calendar which included days to be used to make up days lost. Depending upon past experience, this number could range from 3 to 10 days throughout the State. The local school system calendar shall have identified those potential make-up days which could have been used as student days when calendar modification becomes necessary; that is, make-up days, student vacation days, etc.
(b) The local school system has modified its calendar by scheduling school on the make-up days provided in the original calendar and by extending the school year 3 days beyond the previously scheduled closing date.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

They can't get the waiver without using all their makeup days. They know this. They are just playing for time so that they have an excuse to add another two half days later in June. It's ridiculous. The last day of school will be June 23, 2026, if there are no more snow days. June 17, 18, 22, and 23 will be half-days.

They don't need to use all of them. They need to use three. Then they can asked for the others to be waived.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

They can't get the waiver without using all their makeup days. They know this. They are just playing for time so that they have an excuse to add another two half days later in June. It's ridiculous. The last day of school will be June 23, 2026, if there are no more snow days. June 17, 18, 22, and 23 will be half-days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

They can't get the waiver without using all their makeup days. They know this. They are just playing for time so that they have an excuse to add another two half days later in June. It's ridiculous. The last day of school will be June 23, 2026, if there are no more snow days. June 17, 18, 22, and 23 will be half-days.

No one wants to go later in June except the 12 month employees who work all year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

They can't get the waiver without using all their makeup days. They know this. They are just playing for time so that they have an excuse to add another two half days later in June. It's ridiculous. The last day of school will be June 23, 2026, if there are no more snow days. June 17, 18, 22, and 23 will be half-days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

They can't get the waiver without using all their makeup days. They know this. They are just playing for time so that they have an excuse to add another two half days later in June. It's ridiculous. The last day of school will be June 23, 2026, if there are no more snow days. June 17, 18, 22, and 23 will be half-days.

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

Who received this email?

This is unfair. The jews got their holidays, Indians got their diwali, Christians will get their Easter and Passover, they are not even taking away lunar new year!! They came after a muslim holiday?? It is not a good look MCPS!

This was in the email:

Note: students observing Eid al-Fitr (March 19, 20) will receive an excused absence.

Excusing an absence is still putting a penalty on the student to not only learn something that was taught to other children, but not to them, but also to make up work after hours on their own time. Now imagine they have missed other days around it for illness or other health condition.

It is not possible to have the entire school system take off for every single possible holiday that any family in Montgomery County might celebrate.

I do agree, though, that it's a bad look to have off for Diwali, Passover and Lunar New Year but not this. So I think MCPS should have this policy apply to those holidays too.

What solution are you seeking? Do you want to have the days off for Eid al-Fitr and extend the school year?

Since MCPS already days off for all the other religious holidays they should have Eid off too. Its unfair. To make it fair it would make more sense to use Presidents day for make up or shorten spring break instead of using one religious holiday as a makeup when the rest of them were given off.
Next year, it would make sense to not give any religious holidays if they want to be fair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

Who received this email?

This is unfair. The jews got their holidays, Indians got their diwali, Christians will get their Easter and Passover, they are not even taking away lunar new year!! They came after a muslim holiday?? It is not a good look MCPS!

This was in the email:

Note: students observing Eid al-Fitr (March 19, 20) will receive an excused absence.

Excusing an absence is still putting a penalty on the student to not only learn something that was taught to other children, but not to them, but also to make up work after hours on their own time. Now imagine they have missed other days around it for illness or other health condition.

It is not possible to have the entire school system take off for every single possible holiday that any family in Montgomery County might celebrate.

I do agree, though, that it's a bad look to have off for Diwali, Passover and Lunar New Year but not this. So I think MCPS should have this policy apply to those holidays too.

What solution are you seeking? Do you want to have the days off for Eid al-Fitr and extend the school year?

Anonymous wrote:Why are they not canceling the lunar new year day off also? (feb 17).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

Who received this email?

This is unfair. The jews got their holidays, Indians got their diwali, Christians will get their Easter and Passover, they are not even taking away lunar new year!! They came after a muslim holiday?? It is not a good look MCPS!

This was in the email:

Note: students observing Eid al-Fitr (March 19, 20) will receive an excused absence.

Excusing an absence is still putting a penalty on the student to not only learn something that was taught to other children, but not to them, but also to make up work after hours on their own time. Now imagine they have missed other days around it for illness or other health condition.

It is not possible to have the entire school system take off for every single possible holiday that any family in Montgomery County might celebrate.

I do agree, though, that it's a bad look to have off for Diwali, Passover and Lunar New Year but not this. So I think MCPS should have this policy apply to those holidays too.

What solution are you seeking? Do you want to have the days off for Eid al-Fitr and extend the school year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From today's e-mail:

"At present, per state law, we need to make up four instructional days. There are two days that we have identified in the calendar that will be changed from non-instructional days to instructional days: March 20th will be a full instructional day. June 18th will be an early release instructional day and the new last day of the school year for students and staff. Other potential make up days are also being considered and some of those days may require additional approvals before being announced - none of those potential days are in February.

Like other localities in Maryland, we will be requesting a waiver from the state of some of the missed instructional days. Pending the outcome of that waiver, we will update our Make-Up plan and share that with you as soon as we know."

Who received this email?

This is unfair. The jews got their holidays, Indians got their diwali, Christians will get their Easter and Passover, they are not even taking away lunar new year!! They came after a muslim holiday?? It is not a good look MCPS!

This was in the email:

Note: students observing Eid al-Fitr (March 19, 20) will receive an excused absence.

Excusing an absence is still putting a penalty on the student to not only learn something that was taught to other children, but not to them, but also to make up work after hours on their own time. Now imagine they have missed other days around it for illness or other health condition.