Md. school systems can ask for waivers on snow days

WASHINGTON — All the snow days this year have many schools in our region taking drastic measures to make up for lost time, including extending the school year. But some schools and students in the D.C. area will get a break.

Maryland requires that public schools provide at least 180 days of classes per year, but the Maryland State Board of Education voted Tuesday to allow public school districts in the state to apply for waivers of up to five days. That means a whole week’s worth of classes may not have to be made up.

The board has done the same thing before, after the nasty winter of 2009-2010.

Requests for these waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the state superintendent of schools.

Fifteen school systems have already requested waivers, and more requests are expected. Every one of Maryland’s 24 public school systems took more snow days than planned this year.

Montgomery County Public Schools were closed for 10 snow days, and schools in Garrett County, in Western Maryland, have been shut for a whopping 20 days.

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