HCPSS Updates School Calendar After Inclement Weather Days

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — After schools were closed in Howard County on Monday and Wednesday due to snow and icy conditions, the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Interim Superintendent Michael J. Martirano gave an update on the school calendar. By law, schools in Maryland must be in session 180 days each year. An executive order mandates that schools start no earlier than the day after Labor Day and end no later than June 15. School systems may apply for waivers if they would like to be granted an exception.

To allow for inclement weather, HCPSS sets aside days for inclement weather and builds them into the school calendar.

So far in the 2017-2018 academic year, HCPSS has canceled classes because of inclement weather on four days, Martirano said on Thursday.

"To make up those days, schools now will be in session on April 4, 5 and 6 and for a half-day on May 18," Martirano said in a statement.

That means spring break will be from Friday, March 30, to Tuesday, April 3.

Previously, spring break had been slated for Monday, April 2, to Friday, April 6, but school officials said when releasing the calendar before the school year began that April 4 to 6 could be used as inclement weather days.

• Winter Weather Closes HCPSS On Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018
• HCPSS Updates Weather Decision For Monday Feb. 5, 2018

"Should additional inclement weather closings become necessary, HCPSS will petition the Maryland State Department of Education for a waiver of the additional days," Martirano said.

That is because the additional makeup day was slated for June 15, which happens to fall on a Muslim holiday. June 15 is the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, marking a celebration of the end of Ramadan.

"Per Board policy, no activities or exams can be scheduled on this day," Martirano explained. "This will require all end of school assemblies, promotion ceremonies, celebrations and final exams to be held on June 14 but still require students to attend on the day after. Adding an additional day to the end of the school year would not effectively replace the valuable instruction days lost to inclement weather. HCPSS will use June 15 as a last resort to ensure that make up days will truly serve as replacement days for the instruction time that has been lost."

SEE ALSO:

• Howard County School Calendar 2017-18: First Day Of School, Vacations, Conferences
• Day Added To School Calendar For Inclement Weather: HCPSS

For more information, check out the HCPSS calendar, HCPSS inclement weather closings page and the Maryland State Department of Education school calendar page.

Patch file photo.