WASHINGTON — Four weeks into winter, some Maryland school systems have already used up most of their snow days, and school planners are adjusting their calendars to meet the 180-day school year requirement.
Gov. Larry Hogan’s order that Maryland schools open after Labor Day has compressed the school year — reducing schools’ scheduling flexibility.
Prince George’s County Public Schools have used three snow days so far and are canceling a teacher professional development day on Feb. 9. The county has warned that any additional school closings will impact spring break, which is scheduled to begin April 3.
Montgomery County Public Schools have closed twice for bad weather so far this winter. According to the school system’s contingency calendar, if schools are closed three or more days, then the first makeup day will be June 13, extending the school year. Other potential makeup days are Jan. 26 and March 26–27.
In Anne Arundel County, schools have closed twice, with one emergency closing day left. The calendar includes a third emergency closing day, but if a fourth day is needed, school officials said they will seek a waiver from the Maryland State Board of Education to open on Easter Monday.
Calvert County schools have already closed four times this school year. The school is adding makeup days this month, extending the second quarter from Jan. 24 to Jan. 26.
So far, Howard County schools have only used two of its inclement weather days. The system has a handful of possible makeup days built into its schedule and will decide which days are used once it has a total for how many it may need.
Both Carroll and Baltimore counties will tack on extra days at the end of the year, should they be needed. Each has used two snow days. Baltimore City schools used three snow days and may move the last day of school to June 15, if necessary.
