MCPS School Calendar Update Following Closings

Inclement weather forced Montgomery County Public Schools to close for two days earlier this month but the closings will not impact this year’s school calendar–for now, according to MCPS Superintendent Dr. Jack Smith.

Smith released in a statement that the 2017-2018 school calendar includes a total of 182 instructional days, which are two above the minimum required by the state of Maryland.

He continued, however, that any additional school closures for emergency weather will result in the use of one or all designated make-up days in the MCPS school calendar to meet the state’s required number of days.

In the event of another school closure, here is the order in which days will be used:

• If there is one more emergency weather closure, the school year will be extended by one day on June 13, 2018.
• If there are two more emergency weather closures, then the school year will be extended to June 14, 2018.
• If there are three more emergency weather closures, then the school year will be extended to June 15, 2018. (Note: By State law, MCPS cannot extend the school year past June 15).
• If there are four more emergency weather closures, then March 26, 2018 will be used as a make-up day (the first day of Spring Break).
• If there are five more emergency weather closures, then March 27, 2018 will be used as a make-up day (the second day of Spring Break).

“In the unfortunate event that we receive additional inclement weather and additional closures are required, MCPS may request a waiver from the state minimum of 180 school days,” Smith stated. “To be eligible for the waiver, school systems must not only add make-up days at the end of the year, they must also modify the school calendar during the student instructional year to demonstrate a good faith effort to make up lost time.”

For more information on the school calendar, click here.

The two days that schools were closed due to inclement weather can be absorbed without a modification to the calendar. Read a message from Dr. Jack Smith about the make-up day plan in the event there are additional school closures for emergency weather. https://t.co/XF6eAPrVKw

— MCPS (@MCPS) January 24, 2018

About Mitti Hicks

Mitti Hicks is a multimedia journalist and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She is passionate about telling stories that impact our community and may be reached at MHicks@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter @mittimegan.

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