Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is proposing a potential 10-day winter break for the 2025-2026 school year according to two draft calendars introduced Tuesday during the county school board’s policy management committee meeting.
The two proposed calendars also include a transition day for students moving into new grades and schools, according to the information presented by MCPS Executive Director of the Office of District of Operations Christine Malchodi.
Malchodi said the district surveyed families to get feedback and ideas for the 2025-2026 school year. The feedback they received focused on extending the winter break and continuing to start a new school year before Labor Day. Malchodi said MCPS staff considered the feedback when compiling the proposed calendars.
The main difference between the two draft calendars is the length of winter breaks.
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.
One draft calendar included the proposed longer 10-day winter break, which would run from Dec. 22, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026. The last day of school would be June 18, 2026, with the first day on Aug. 26.
The other draft calendar included a more typical eight-day winter break, which would start Dec. 24, 2025, and end Jan. 2, 2026. The last day of school would be June 16, 2026, with the first day on Aug. 26.
Malchodi also introduced the idea of a transition day on the first day of school for students entering kindergarten and the sixth and ninth grades to build community and enhance a sense of belonging for new students. This option was included in both versions of the calendar. The transition day would be Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, making the first official day of school for all students Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
The transition day would be a non-instructional day for students and would help build relationships and community with teachers, students and staff, Malchodi said. School board member Shebra Evans noted that schools hold orientation earlier in the summer. Malchodi said that orientation day would move to the Monday before school starts.
“The idea is, if you feel that people want you there, you feel welcome, then you’re more likely to want to be there,” Malchodi said. “So, when we think about how to start that work, we started thinking about this idea of a transition day.”
Malchodi said MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor was excited about bringing the idea of transition days from his previous school district in Stafford County, Virginia.
Moving forward, Malchodi said the district would be looking for continued feedback from students, staff and families on the draft calendars.
