Snow Days May Be Obsolete At MCPS Because Of Online Learning

ROCKVILLE, MD — Snow days may be a thing of the past for Montgomery County Public Schools.

During Thursday's school board meeting, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jack Smith said snow days should be obsolete now that COVID-19 has ushered in an era of digital learning.

MCPS, which is the largest school district in Maryland, has held classes virtually since March 17. Education officials have not yet announced a date for when schools can fully reopen for in-person instruction.

"In my view of the world, this digital platform — this digital experience — is never going to go away entirely and we don't want it to because even in the best world, I never want to have a snow day again," Smith said. "I just don't think there's use for it ever again, to have to make up a snow day."

Jeanette Dixon, a Board of Education member, jokingly responded by saying: "I will miss the student comments on Twitter when it's decided that school will open on snow days."

"And (students) wearing pajamas inside out!" Smith added.

MCPS builds in four snow days into the student calendar each year. If schools need more days off, they'll have to cut into spring break or tack on more days at the end of the academic year.

The school district has not issued a final decision on snow days. But Smith says it's something administrators are "aggressively pursuing."