Maryland House Advances Bill to Prevent Late-June School Year Extension in Montgomery County
With the Montgomery County school year now scheduled to run through June 26 after a series of winter closures, Maryland lawmakers have advanced emergency legislation that could allow the district to end classes earlier — by counting instructional hours instead of adding make-up days.
Lawmakers in Montgomery County, Maryland are moving swiftly to prevent the local school year from stretching into late June after snow-related closures forced calendar changes that would add days — and millions of dollars in costs — to the academic year.
Earlier this week, the Maryland House of Delegates voted unanimously to approve House Bill 1084, a measure designed to give Montgomery County Public Schools greater flexibility in meeting state education requirements. The bill now heads to the Maryland State Senate, where it must pass in identical form before going to the governor.
Under current state law, school systems must provide a minimum of 180 instructional days. After multiple snow closures earlier this winter, MCPS added extra days to the end of the calendar year, pushing the final day of school to June 26. District officials have said each additional day costs more than $2 million in operational expenses.
The legislation was introduced after the Maryland State Department of Education denied the district’s request for a waiver from the 180-day requirement. Lawmakers described the situation as requiring a “unique solution.”
If enacted, the bill would allow the Montgomery County Board of Education to satisfy state requirements by meeting either a minimum number of instructional days or a minimum number of instructional hours, rather than both. MCPS has stated that it already exceeds the state’s instructional hour requirement, meaning the additional days would no longer be necessary.
Delegate Sarah Wolek said the goal is to ensure students receive adequate instruction while also considering the impact on families. “Get our kids the instruction they need, along with keeping in mind people’s lives, the plans they may already have for summer camps and travel at the end of the year,” she said.
According to Delegate Anne Kaiser, the bill was amended to be treated as emergency legislation. If signed into law, it would take effect immediately and apply to the current school year, eliminating the need for the previously announced extension. She said the measure has already received preliminary support from all nine state senators representing Montgomery County.
Before a full Senate vote, the bill must receive a hearing in the Senate’s Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
Parents remain divided. Some support shortening the extended year, arguing that families have already made summer plans and paid for camps. Others say the district should reconsider how it manages weather-related closures but prioritize safety.
“I appreciate the school district being very careful and safe,” one parent said. Another expressed frustration with the number of closures, suggesting the district should plan more carefully to avoid calendar disruptions.
If the Senate approves the measure and it is signed by the governor, Montgomery County could conclude its school year earlier than June 26, reversing what would otherwise be one of the latest finishes in recent years.
