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HCPSS / NEWS

Board Considers New Options for Recognizing Diversity Within the 2016–2017 Academic Calendar

March 11th, 2016

The Board will hold a Public Hearing on the 2016-2017 Academic Calendar during their March 24, 2016 meeting at 7:30 p.m. To sign up to speak at the Public Forum, contact the Board’s office at 410-313-7194.

Board report detailing on all five calendar modification options
Published: March 10, 2016. 66 pages. | Summarzied presentation

The Howard County Board of Education is considering several options for incorporating school closings on the Eid al-Adha, Diwali, and Lunar New Year Eve holidays for the 2016–2017 school year. Five options for modifying the calendar were presented during today’s Board meeting.

Two of the modification options presented provide for closing the school system for both students and staff on all three new holidays. State law allows public school closures on religious holidays only for secular purposes, such as high absentee rates.

The other three options close schools for students on the three holidays, and designate each as a professional learning and/or work day for school staff.

Each of the five options presents a different approach to accommodating the impact of new school closures on the remainder of the academic year, by adjusting existing professional days, shortening conference windows, and changing other variables.

The Board will hold a Public Hearing on the 2016–2017 Academic Calendar on March 24. Action on the calendar is scheduled for April 14.

Full details on all five calendar modification options are provided in the Board report and are summarized in the presentation.