Montgomery County public school students will have an eight-day winter break during the 2025-2026 school year, and some can expect a transition day before classes start, according to an academic year calendar approved Thursday by the county school board.
The board voted 7 to 1 to approve the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) calendar with the clarification that the transition day will be a full day for students after extensive discussion among board members. Board member Karla Silvestre was the lone opposing vote after she disagreed with other board members on whether the transition day needed to last a full school day.
The 2025-2026 calendar includes 181 instructional days with six contingency days, including a student transition day for kindergarteners and rising sixth- and ninth graders before classes begin; a winter break from Dec. 24, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026; and a six-day spring break, not including weekends. The first day of school will be Aug. 26, 2025, and the last day of school will be June 17, 2026. The transition day will be Aug. 25, 2025.
This school year, the MCPS winter break lasts eight school days, running from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1. During the 2023-2024 school year, the winter break was seven school days, running from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2.
Transition day
The idea for a transition day before the first day of school for students entering kindergarten and the sixth and ninth grades was first introduced in September when MCPS staff presented two calendar drafts to the board’s policy management committee.
During that committee meeting, MCPS Executive Director of the Office of District Operations Christine Malchodi said the day would be an opportunity to build community and enhance a sense of belonging for new students.
No classes will be held during the transition day, which is planned as an opportunity for kindergarteners as well as students transitioning into middle and high school to visit and get acclimated at their schools, according to Dana Edwards, MCPS chief of district operations.
Edwards said MCPS staff considered community feedback when developing the calendar, including adding the new transition day.
Typically, a similar orientation is held the week before school, but Edwards said the district found that not all students were participating. Edwards said the schedule for the transition day would be different than for previous orientations and could include activities such as pep rallies, student panels and classroom visits. MCPS will provide transportation for students.
Superintendent Thomas Taylor noted the transition day was his idea; he’d incorporated such a day into academic calendars when he worked for other districts. Taylor said providing transportation creates more equity for students who may not have a way to get to their schools for other orientation events.
On Thursday, Edwards presented the transition day as an early release day, instead of the originally planned full day. Edwards said the session was reduced to a half-day after staff members raised concerns about making sure all teachers have enough planning time.
But several board members, including Brenda Wolff (Dist. 5), newly elected Rita Montoya (At-Large) and Grace Rivera-Oven. (Dist. 1), raised concerns about creating childcare challenges for parents if the session only lasts half of the day.
Silvestre said a half-day session wouldn’t be a “big deal” because families that normally use childcare would have it available. Montoya noted it’s easier to get childcare for the entire day rather than a half day.
Ultimately, the board approved the calendar with the clarification that the transition day would be a full day.
