State Approves MCPS Plan, Waives Four Snow Days
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has made final adjustments to this year’s school calendar and will make up two snow days. Under a plan approved by the Maryland State Department of Education this week, school will be held on the following days:
– Monday, April 21, also known as Easter Monday
– Friday, June 13, which will be the last day of school for students
No other snow days will have to be made up under the state-approved plan. The 2013-2014 school calendar, as approved by the Montgomery County Board of Education, has 184 days of instruction, which is four more than required by state law. MCPS has had 10 snow days this school year and, therefore, is six days under the 180 days of instruction required by state law.
Just this week, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery granted a waiver that allows MCPS to go four days below the required days of instruction if school is held on April 21 and June 13.
“We appreciate Dr. Lowery’s recognition that this has been a very unusual winter and her willingness to grant us some flexibility in our calendar,” said Superintendent of Schools Joshua P. Starr. “By holding classes on April 21 and June 13, we can make up two valuable days of instruction without significantly disrupting our community’s summer schedules.”
This is a terrible decision, why not extend the school by another week? What is the purpose of the rules if they bend them any way they want?