A bill that would loosen restrictions on when schools can start classes after summer break is gaining traction in the state legislature.
Legislation introduced by Sen. Nancy King of Montgomery County, a former president and eight-year member of the county school board, and Prince George’s County Sen. Paul Pinsky would allow the state’s 24 local school boards to establish their own calendars.
Senate Bill 128, which was supported by education activists during a Wednesday committee hearing, would overturn an executive order from Gov. Larry Hogan requiring all schools to open after Labor Day.
Hogan’s 2016 order, which met with criticism, was made to promote small businesses through the holiday and “protect the traditional end of summer.”
The requirement has put a strain on school systems struggling to find a way to accommodate the order along with state mandates that students attend 180 days of classes without the school year extending past June 15.
Such is true in Montgomery County, where schools were originally scheduled to release for summer break June 13 this school year, but the calendar was extended Wednesday when schools were closed due to inclement weather. Because of state restrictions, any additional weather or emergency closures could have to be made up during spring break or teacher service days unless the state school board grants a waiver.
“We’ve really been struggling for the last two years because of this new calendar,” Montgomery County school board member Judy Docca said. “We always started in August, and now, if we need to make up time, there’s only so much we can do.”
Often an overlooked result of the restricted calendar is the pressure it puts on school closings for religious holidays, Docca said. With more flexibility, Montgomery schools could recognize more holidays observed by different religions.
The school board recently approved next year’s school calendar with closures that coincide with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The Maryland Association of Boards of Education supports Senate Bill 128 “because it would provide much needed flexibility” and expands local governance accountability. The bill would allow school districts with higher needs to lessen the effect of summer learning loss, which occurs when students don’t retain information learned the prior school year during the summer, the state association said in testimony given at Wednesday’s hearing.
“Such gains can erode over extended summer breaks, and negatively impact the progress students are able to make beginning on day one of the new school year,” the state association’s testimony says.
Hogan’s administration voiced “strong opposition” to the bill during testimony Wednesday saying it negates years of examination and study by various state task forces and education groups.
“This disastrous legislation would undo the Governor’s action that is in line with years of bipartisan recommendations … and would run directly counter to the approach favored by the vast majority of Marylanders,” the testimony says.
Hogan’s executive order was supported by state Comptroller Peter Franchot, who spoke out on Tuesday against Senate Bill 128 on social media, saying it impedes students’ ability to get a much-needed break in the summer months.
“In spite of the fact that Governor Hogan’s School After Labor Day initiative is good for small businesses, good for our state’s economy and is supported by more than 70 percent of Marylanders, a bill has been introduced that would allow our local school boards to send children back into the classroom in the dog days of August,” Franchot wrote on Facebook.
The proposed bill still mandates students attend 180 days of classes and receive at least 1,080 hours of instruction each academic year.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
