Montgomery County Public Schools Weather
Make-Up Day Plan
January 24, 2018
Dear MCPS Community:
I want to provide you with an update on the school calendar for the remainder of the school year.
As you know, recent inclement weather forced Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to close schools on two days (January 4 and January 17). The 2017-2018 MCPS school calendar includes 182 instruction days, two above the minimum required in the state of Maryland. Therefore, our two weather closures can be absorbed without a modification to the calendar.
However, any additional school closures for emergency weather will result in the need to use one or all of the designated make-up days in the MCPS school calendar to ensure we meet the State-required number of days. Below is the order in which days will be used:
- If there is one more emergency weather closure, then 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).
If the school year extends beyond June 12, then June 12 will become a full day of instruction and the new last day of school will be an early release day for students.
Please Note: Given that MCPS still meets the State minimum number for instructional days and the proximity to the designated snow make-up day of Friday, January 26, 2018, this Friday MCPS will remain closed for students and continue to serve as a professional day for staff.
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. 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.
While our mission is student learning, our first priority must be the safety of our students and staff. MCPS will continue to closely monitor for severe weather and provide updates on any impact it may have to the school calendar. For more information on the MCPS school calendar, visit our website http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
Sincerely,
Jack R. Smith, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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