MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County students will get a longer winter break and fewer half-days next year under the newly-approved 2023-2024 MCPS academic calendar.
During a meeting Tuesday, the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Board of Education approved next year's academic calendar, which features a few changes including extending winter break.
The new calendar includes an 11-day winter break, which is one day longer than the current calendar, and five early release days (aka half-days), which is three fewer.
The entire school year will consist of 182 school days, including six contingency days, starting on Aug. 28 and ending on June 13.
Key points of 2023-2024 academic calendar:
- Total of 182 instructional days
- First day of school: Monday, Aug. 28, 2023
- Last day of school: Thursday, June 13, 2024
- The 2023-2024 winter break (Dec. 25, 2023—Jan. 2, 2024) will be one day longer than this year’s winter break.
Another notable change is professional development days for teachers that also feature out-of-school learning opportunities for students, like internships and other programs in the community, at no additional cost to students and their families.
These changes to the academic calendar and the addition of professional development days comes after school officials spoke with families and their students on how to best serve them.
Following a board meeting on Oct. 25, 2022, MCPS staff launched a campaign for public review and feedback for four calendar scenarios, out of which the approved one was selected.
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