Board seeks state waiver to end school year June 18 by converting early-dismissal days to full days

The Harford County Board of Education voted on March 9 to request a three-day waiver from the Maryland State Board of Education that would allow the district to set the last student day on June 18. Administration proposed converting two early-dismissal days — April 17 and May 22 — into full instructional days and waiving the final teacher workday to satisfy state rules about showing increased instructional time.

Ms. Ridgeway, presenting the calendar options, said the district had used seven inclement weather closures this year and that the waiver request is intended to avoid extending the school year into late June. "The state does allow districts to seek waivers," she said, outlining two relevant COMAR provisions for weather-related waivers and scheduling that applies when the final student day would land on a Monday.

Board members discussed alternatives (using Easter Monday as an instructional day and creating virtual-learning options) and noted prior concerns about equity and equipment costs for virtual instruction. One board member cautioned about hotspots and access; Ridgeway said the waiver request focuses on calendar adjustments and that any virtual-learning proposal would be studied separately.

The board approved the motion to end the school year on June 18, convert the two early-dismissal days to full days, and align the last teacher workday with the adjusted calendar, pending state approval of the three-day waiver. The board will submit evidence of increased instructional time (for example, converting early-dismissal days to full days) as part of the waiver package.