WASHINGTON — Prince George’s County schools are eliminating a day of spring break due to winter weather closures earlier this year.
Students will now have an extra day of school on Friday, April 6.
The early March windstorm that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands also closed county schools for the fourth time in the 2017-18 school year.
“Students, staff and families should expect school to be in session on Friday, April 6 — originally scheduled as the last day of spring break,” officials said in a statement explaining their decision on Wednesday.
If there are any additional closures between now and then, students might also be attending classes on April 5.
In its statement, Prince George’s County schools explained there are two days built into its calendar for bad weather. The school system used a third day on Feb. 9.
When the wind forced students to miss a fourth day, the plan to open school on April 6 kicked in.
Schools in Montgomery County are dealing with a similar situation.
Montgomery County schools are adding a couple of days to the end of the year. School was supposed to end June 12, but will now end June 14.
Montgomery County school system superintendent Jack Smith said June 15 would be used if bad weather forces school to close again this year.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed an executive order in 2016 that said state schools must end their year by June 15.
Citing Hogan’s order, Montgomery County adopted a new academic calendar that gave students a shorter spring break next year.
The 2018-2019 school year cuts four days from the break, shortening it from 10 days to six.
Montgomery County has complained to Hogan’s office about the executive order.
But Hogan’s spokeswoman Amelia Chasse asked the county to create a “common-sense calendar that prioritizes what students and families want.”
