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MCPS presents four draft 2026‑27 calendars as parents press for start/end dates and holiday changes
Summary
MCPS staff previewed four draft calendars for the 2026‑27 school year; parents and board members questioned start/end dates, winter break timing and impacts on supporting services employees and families.
Montgomery County Public Schools staff presented four draft calendars for the 2026‑27 school year at the board work session on Oct. 16 and asked for early feedback from board members and the public on start/end dates, winter break timing and professional‑learning scheduling.
The district said the calendars were developed to balance instructional time, professional development, religious observances and district policy guidance. Kat Malchodi, executive director for operations, told the board the team bench‑marked neighboring districts, convened multiple calendar committees and collected wide survey feedback as they prepared preliminary drafts.
Key points from public and board discussion: - Start and end dates: Some board members urged calendars that end earlier in June, citing fatigue and lower instructional quality at late‑June dates; others noted competing needs such as AP/IB exam timelines and supporting services staffing. - Winter break timing: Several speakers asked why all draft options begin winter break Dec. 24, which they said shortchanges families who observe Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and need travel time. Board members asked staff to consider shifting the first winter break day in future drafts. - Agricultural fair and extra‑curricular timing: Board members noted area families who participate in county fairs and asked staff to be mindful of local event calendars when choosing start dates. - Supporting services and “no work/no pay” days: Board members repeated concerns about days that create unpaid workdays for supporting services staff and asked staff to report how many no‑pay days each option would create.
Process and next steps: Malchodi said staff will take the four drafts back for community feedback and that the board will receive a formal adoption recommendation Dec. 11. The public will have opportunities to comment in October and November; staff said they will continue to refine drafts based on survey results, calendar‑committee input and board direction.
Ending: Board members encouraged more outreach — especially to working families, principals and support‑services staff — and emphasized the need for clarity about trade‑offs before the board adopts a final calendar in December.
