HCPSS School Calendars Updated, Approved By County Education Board

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The 2023-2024 academic calendar has been modified and the 2024-2025 academic calendar approved by the Howard County Board of Education at its meeting Thursday.

While the 2023-2024 academic calendar was approved by the board in February 2022, modifications were required due to a conflict with the annual HCPSS New Educators Orientation in August 2023 and due to the Maryland 2024 Primary Election Day being moved to April 23, 2024, after the HCPSS calendar originally was approved.

To account for these two considerations, the following adjustments to the 2023-2024 academic calendar were approved:

• The return date for staff will be Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
• The end of the school year was extended by two days and now is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Three-hour early dismissals are scheduled for students on June 5, 7, 10 and 11.

On Feb. 23 it was announced that the Baltimore County Executive and Baltimore City Mayor appealed to the state to move Election Day from April 23, 2024, due to a conflict with the first day of the Passover holiday. Because of that uncertainty, the board delayed action on adding the Primary Election Day into the 2023-2024 academic calendar. This date will be added once the state finalizes a decision on Primary Election Day.

At that time, the board also will add a professional learning day for staff since one day was removed in August. Both days were accounted for in the board’s action to extend the school year to June 11, 2024, so no additional days will have to be added to the end of the school year.

The board additionally approved the HCPSS 2024-2025 academic calendar. Highlights of that calendar include:

• The first day for students will be Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.
• Schools will be closed for students for winter break from Dec. 23, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025.
• Spring break will be from April 14-21, 2025.
• The last day of school for students is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

The updated 2023-2024 calendar can be viewed on the HCPSS website. The 2024-2025 proposed calendar that was adopted by the board can be found on the BoardDocs website.