On Jewish Holidays BCPS Will Be Closed In 2018: School Board

TOWSON, MD — The Baltimore County Board of Education voted Tuesday night on the calendar for the 2018-2019 academic year. Board members decided that Baltimore County Public Schools will be closed on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The school board had to meet state education standards that mandate 180 days of instruction for students and an order from the governor that Maryland schools begin after Labor Day. Officials also had to build in days for inclement weather.

The school board considered two proposals for calendars, one that had schools remaining open on Sept. 10 (Rosh Hashanah) and Sept. 19 (Yom Kippur). That proposal, which was deemed "Option A," had an additional day of spring break.

Instead, the board chose school calendar proposal called "Option B."

Based on the plan that was approved at Tuesday night's meeting, spring break will be from Friday, April 19, to Monday, April 22, 2019, and schools will be closed for the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in 2018.

A professional day will also be moved to June 5, 2019, which is the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Fitr, according to Fox 45, which reported the vote on the new calendar passed, 9-3.

This was the second year schools had to modify the calendar to fit within the new framework outlined by the governor, starting after Labor Day and ending by June 15.

• Jewish Holidays Removed From School Calendar: Baltimore County School Board Proposal
• Baltimore County School Board Seeks Input On Proposed Calendar, School Climate, Discipline
• Maryland School Start Date: Governor Orders No School Before Labor Day

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