From Harford County Public Schools:
As of Saturday, February 16, 2013:
Per the Board approved calendar for the 2012 – 2013 school year, at this time, the last day of school for students is Friday, June 14. Below is the sequentially ordered list of make-up days to be used. Dates below with a line through them are dates identified as inclement weather make-up days that have been used and will now be dates when schools are in session.
Wednesday, June 12
Thursday, June 13
Friday, June 14
Tuesday, April 30
Monday, April 29
Wednesday, April 3
Tuesday, April 2
Monday, June 17
Four inclement weather days have been used, which means that Tuesday, April 30th is now a regular school day. We have four inclement weather make-up dates remaining. We will provide updates as we move through inclement weather season.
Waivers for days used must be granted by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and are not automatic regardless of ‘State of Emergency’ status, as declared by the Governor during an inclement weather event. Please note that waivers will not be considered by MSDE until the end of snow/inclement weather season. More information will be forthcoming as we move through the inclement weather season.
You have a line through April 29 but the story indicates that day is still closed. Please clarify. Thanks
They should have proofed their story. Check the HCPS website.
This is rediculous. We were in a state of emergency. Dobthey really believe that coming in on Monday June 17 will make a difference?
Do they think anyone will actually come in on Monday June 17? Maybe parents who want one last day of freedom will send theirs.
Putting a test or two on the 17th instead of the 14th would give the kids an extra two whole days to study without worrying about other subjects, I’d say that is great for them.
That would be all fine and dandy except that students are quite aware that all grades have to be turned in a week before school ends.
That is totally and completely untrue, at least at the high school level. Grades were never due until the last day of school for students, and generally there are teacher days after the last day for students and grades are due then. For teachers, the issue is that we are mandated to give (and therefore prepare for) final exams, when the county values those exams so little in determining the overall grade for a class that students know that most of the time they are meaningless. The only student for whom a final exam matters is one whose average of quarter grades puts them squarely between two (A/B, B/C, C/D, D/E), and in my experience the only ones of those who care are the ones caught between passing and failing. If a student earns straight A’s all four quarters but fails the final exam, that student still gets an A.
County policy is that all non-K students are in school any day it is open. So while it may seem pointless for elementary and middle school students, for high school students it is a mandatory thing. At least the last three of those days are usually half days so it counts towards the state mandated 180 days of instruction.
@ Concerned Teacher…..Elementary school students come home on the last day of school with report cards in hand. All grades are due one week before the last day of school to principals. They are then printed in the office and handed back for teachers to stuff in report cards the day before the last day of school. This is what happens in elementary school. So yes, in elementary school, the students know that their grades are already turned in a week before the last day of school.
So we write off a week of school in order to save $0.46/student for stamps? That sounds like a great investment in our kids’ future…
My darlings will be there. I say send ’em all summer. Momma needs a glass of wine.
Do you want to be paid for working? Or do you just want a free day off (with pay)? ie not make up the snow day that you got paid for…
What the heck we’ve have not even had over a inch of snow all winter, and they have used the days already.
Hurricane days at the beginning of the school year.
And in other news, in Garrett County where they have had 5 feet of snow….the school year will end as planned.
Yes, that’s true in Garrett but remember most school districts build in the snow days and with 5-6 days in the calendar state the last day of school with the added days. HCPS does it differently. When I used to teach in another state, they would publish the last day with the snow days built in, and if they weren’t used, we were all happy when we got out “early”. Just two different ways of looking at the same issue.
The last day of school in almost all schools kids are not permitted to bring anything with them… How can anyone take it seriously when kids don’t have pencils or paper. The last day is really expensive babysitting funded by taxpayers
You stopped short, broski. You should have said… “The entire school year is really expensive babysitting funded by taxpayers”
Is it not time Harford County Schools hires real leaders and not Baltimore City /County rejects! We should go on a real national search for effective leadership in this county across the board! Eliminate the stupid hillbilly good ole boy and girls club in this county! How could anyone justify a snow day this year? Carrot to the teachers! Just like snow plows sitting on 95 today! double time to sleep nice real nice! We are broke people?
Hurricane Sandy wasn’t snow, but it stopped school just the same.
Well, Bill, we didn’t have a delay this past Thurs., and one of our teachers had a terrible accident trying to get to school. Her car is totalled! When there should be a delay, there isn’t. The week before when there was a delay, they really did need it. But when I drive early in the morning and see the kids waiting beside the road, I’m glad that HCPS errs on the side of caution!
Learn to drive in your climate. Learn to maintain your roads in your climate. We did it in western New York. Surely you back woods characters can rig something up to keep the roads clear so you don’t have to use all your snow days for a Hurricane, or fog, or rain, or wind or whatever else it is you people are afraid of.
my thought is if the teacher didn’t have so many teacher proof days we would not be talking about this…what happed to you go to school, get holidays, spring break, and if it snowed the you were allotted 3 days before any had to be made up. I am very frustrated with the school systems right now…urgh!!!
HCPS added all the extra teacher PD (Professional Development) days years ago to “justify” the raises to teachers. I think that was when they added 10 additional days. I think it’s best to have those days before students come to school in Aug. and at the end of the school year. They would be better utilized at the beginning and end of school years. Most teachers agree with you that PD days should not be scheduled in Nov., Jan., and April.
I strongly believe that with our NEW climate and weather patterns getting more intense over the last several years (hurricanes, earthquakes, strong storms, flooding, etc.), ALL the school systems need to re-assess the school year expectations and any/all weather related complications that might/do occur.
I totally appreciate that Harford County (HCPS) implemented including several weather days into their calendar this year (2012-2013). With this, we all know the possible final last day of school; consequentially, we might pleasantly learn of a shortened year IF no weather concerns ensued. In addition, I appreciate that they also eliminated some of the unnecessary days off, which would be better spent observing in their school day (e.g. Columbus Day).
Surprisingly, throughout the winter months, there are various times when schools don’t go in late or close when they should have, & too when it closes prematurely & didn’t need to in the end.
I STRONGLY believe that when a MD State of Emergency has been issued that those days be pardoned (without needing to submit for exemption) from the school year. For this announcement to occur, conditions obviously are so severe that mobility has been rendered impossible and encouraged to be limited except for state workers. I think we need to weigh safety with being/becoming a day or so smarter.
It is known that as one progresses through grade levels, end-of-year projects and/or final exams occur which further determine one’s final course grade. As I remember it, exams aren’t issued until high school.
Those not requiring exams and/or end-of-year projects (typically high school & college levels), should be not necessarily penalized IF they don’t report to school those make up dates, especially if it is 1-2 days. These last make-up days are “fluff” days in my opinion.
These are my thoughts and feelings, and I strongly think realistic, safe compromises need to be practiced. Many of our kids seek additional educational support elsewhere like Sylvan (my daughter included) to facilitate improvement in their skill or want to get an edge up on anything upcoming. With these resources, our kids are getting a lot more education than I grew up with. Not to mention, being a kid and playing is essential. Too many of our kids are in situations where they have had to grow up too soon. Let’s let our kids have an appropriate level of knowledge and fun but with safety.
how many were built in for harford county?
how many school days were built in for harford county?