Snow Cuts into Spring Break for Harford County Students

The Harford County Board of Education voted Monday to hold school in session on Thursday, April 17. Previously, that day had been designated for spring break.

Students were not supposed to be in school April 15 or 16 due to staff development days; those have already been rescheduled as school days due to inclement weather.

On April 18 and April 21, schools will remain closed for spring break.

Holding school in session April 17 was necessary to make up for inclement weather days, according to Harford County Public Schools, which said: "This will account for one of the extra inclement weather days used in excess of what was built into the 2013-14 school calendar."

The state of Maryland requires students to be in school at least 180 days each school year.

At the outset of the school year, the Harford County reported that its calendar had "the potential for 187 school days," to allow for the possibility of inclement weather.

The school system was out of snow days as of Feb. 7, according to The Aegis.

On Tuesday, Harford County Public Schools issued a statement about April 17 being a school day, noting that it planned to submit a waiver to the Maryland State Department of Education seeking to be excused from the full 180 days.

The Maryland State Department of Education does not accept waivers until after the inclement weather season is over.

This article has been updated.