Board amends and approves 2026–27 Harford County Public Schools calendar

The Harford County Board of Education amended and approved the proposed 2026–27 school calendar during its Jan. 12 meeting after staff presentation and board discussion.

Jillian Leiter, the district communications manager, laid out two draft start-date options (Aug. 24 and Aug. 31) and summarized public comments collected during a 60-day feedback period. The presentation noted the district’s requirement to meet 180 student days, 190 teacher days and comply with COMAR and negotiated holidays.

Board debate focused on the tradeoffs between an earlier start and family preferences. Board member Wade moved to amend version 2A so that Dec. 23, 2026 would be a full day off for students and a half-day professional-development day for educators; to make Jan. 28, 2027 a full professional-development day and Jan. 29 a student half-day; to add two spring break days and to set the last day of school as June 14, 2027 (or June 17 if inclement-weather days are used). The motion was seconded and passed in a voice vote, with the chair announcing one recorded no vote.

Leiter said the calendar changes respond to public input—adjusting professional-development timing, adding early-dismissal days and moving some parent-teacher conferences to create longer instruction blocks.

What happens next: the board adopted the amended calendar at the Jan. 12 meeting. Further administrative scheduling and school-level details will follow; the board will provide final materials and the calendar information will be posted as part of the district’s materials for families.

The vote was conducted by voice; the board did not record a full roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.