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ACTION
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Office of the Superintendent of Schools
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Rockville, Maryland
December 9, 2003
MEMORANDUM
To:
Members of the Board of Education
From:
Jerry D. Weast, Superintendent of Schools
Subject:
School Calendar for 2004–2005
I recommend the attached calendar for the 2004–2005 school year (Attachments A and B). The
school calendar is based on 184 instructional days for students and 195 duty days for teachers.
The contingency plan, indicating when days will be made up if the number of emergency
closings exceeds four days, also is attached (Attachment C).
Various stakeholders were involved during the development of the school calendar. They
included the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations; the Montgomery
County Education Association; the Montgomery County Association of Administrative and
Supervisory Personnel; the SEIU Local 500, Montgomery County Council of Supporting
Services Employees; and the Maryland Association of Student Councils—Montgomery County
Region.
The school calendar allows for the effective use of time and resources for professional
development. It provides the maximum number of instructional days prior to the Maryland
School Assessment, and appropriate opportunities for planning instructional strategies focused
on improving student achievement. The professional development activities are an integral
component of our school year operations and are aligned with reviewing and analyzing school
and student data, as measured by our System of Shared Accountability. Staff is developing a
comprehensive training plan for FY 2005 that is aligned with Our Call to Action: Pursuit of
Excellence—The Strategic Plan for the Montgomery County Public Schools 2003–2008 and tied
to local school improvement plans.
The following points can best describe our approach to professional development:
• Job-embedded learning
• Study of the teaching and learning process
• Consultation, planning, and facilitation services, as well as training
• Focus on student needs and learning outcomes and changes in on-the-job behaviors
Members of the Board of Education
2
December 9, 2003
For school year 2004–2005, two additional professional development days have been
incorporated into the calendar. The impact on accommodating the increase in teacher
professional development days is minimized by using the Maryland State Teachers
Association statewide meeting day on October 15, 2004, as a professional development day for
teachers and all 10-month employees, and adding one pre-service day in August 2004. The
additional professional development days are intended to provide time for principals, teachers,
and school staff to review student data; reflect on implications of the evidence of student
learning; and examine practices, skills, and strategies that can best meet the needs of students.
This examination of practice should be done through grade-level teams and departments,
focusing on professional development plans and job-alike professional development experiences.
The professional development days also will be used by teachers to concentrate on specific data
and activities related to the achievement of their students and the teaching and learning process.
It is critical that some of the professional development days be scheduled during the school year
to allow schools to review student data, make midcourse adjustments, and develop and
implement intervention plans. Systemwide and local professional development activities
associated with school system priorities will be provided on these days.
January 24, 2005, will be a nonschool day to be used by classroom teachers for report card
preparation and planning. The only early release days that remain on the calendar are for report
card preparation and parent conferences.
The following considerations are included in the 2004–2005 school year calendar:
• Starting school on Monday, August 30, 2004
• A student year of 184 instructional days, including 4 contingency days
• A teacher year of 195 duty days, including 2 additional professional development
days, as negotiated
• Five professional development days—no school for students
Ø Pre-service day in August 2004
Ø Friday, October 1, 2004 (all 10-month employees)
Ø Friday, October 15, 2004
Ø Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Ø Friday, April 29, 2005
• Thursday, September 16, 2004, a nonschool day for Rosh Hashanah
• Monday, January 24, 2005, a nonschool day for report card preparation and
planning—end of first semester
• Spring break after Easter, which falls on March 27, 2005
• Twelve holidays, including one mandated general election day on November 2, 2004
As you will note, we have included a nonschool day for Rosh Hashanah in 2004. Yom Kippur
falls on Saturday, September 25, 2004. Also, in 2005, Passover begins at sunset on Saturday,
April 23.
Members of the Board of Education
3
December 9, 2003
Please refer to the School Contingency Calendar for 2004–2005 that identifies when days would
have to be made up if we exceed four days of emergency closings (Attachment C).
Recommended Resolution
WHEREAS, The establishment of school terms by the Board of Education is required by state
law; and
WHEREAS, The Montgomery County parents, community, and staff should be informed of the
Board-adopted school calendar each year and the subsequent contingency plan identifying days
that will be used to make up lost instructional time due to emergency closings; now therefore be
it
Resolved, That the proposed calendar and contingency plan for the Montgomery County Public
Schools for the 2004–2005 school year be adopted.
JDW:LAB:vnb
Attachments
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2004–2005
2004
Monday, July 5, 2004
Holiday
August 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
Monday, August 30
Monday, September 6
Thursday, September 16
Independence Day
Professional days for teachers
First day of school for students
Holiday
Rosh
Hashanah
Friday, October 1
Labor Day
No school for students and teachers (Yom Kippur
is on Saturday, September 25)
Professional development day for teachers and all
10-month employees—no school for students
Professional development day for teachers—no
school for students—to accommodate the
Maryland State Teachers Association, statewide
organizations’ conferences, and local school
activities or systemwide meetings
Friday, October 15
Tuesday, November 2
November 25 and 26
Holiday
Holidays
General Election Day
Thanksgiving
Friday, December 24
December 27, 28, 29, 30
Friday, December 31
2005
Monday, January 17
Monday, January 24
Holiday
Christmas
Winter break—no school for students and teachers
New Year’s Eve
Holiday
Holiday
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
Nonschool day for students (teachers and some
10-month employees work)
Professional development day for teachers—no
school for students
Monday, February 21
Holiday
Presidents Day
March 25 and 28
Holidays
Easter (Note: Passover begins at sunset on
Saturday, April 23)
Spring break—no school for students and teachers
Tuesday, January 25
March 29, 30, 31, and April
1
Friday, April 29
Monday, May 30
Thursday, June 16
Friday, June 17
Professional development day for teachers—no
school for students
Holiday
Memorial Day
Last day of school for students
Professional day for teachers
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR FY 2005
ATTACHMENT B
2004
June
S
M
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
T
1
8
15
22
29
W
2
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
17
24
F
4
11
18
25
S
5
12
19
26
2004
July
August
S
M
T
W
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
T
1
8
15
22
29
F
2
9
16
23
30
S
3
10
17
24
31
S
1
8
15
22
29
M
2
9
16
23
30
October
T
3
10
17
24
31
W
4
11
18
25
T
5
12
19
26
September
F
6
13
20
27
S
7
14
21
28
S
M
T
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
November
S
M
T
W
T
3
10
17
24
31
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
F
1
8
15
22
29
S
2
9
16
23
30
S
7
14
21
28
M
1
8
15
22
29
T
2
9
16
23
30
W
3
10
17
24
T
4
11
18
25
W
1
8
15
22
29
T
2
9
16
23
30
F
3
10
17
24
S
4
11
18
25
Instructional Calendar
December
F
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
S
M
T
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
W
1
8
15
22
29
T
2
9
16
23
30
F
3
10
17
24
31
Month
Days
8
9
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
2
20
19
19
17
18
19
18
19
21
12
184
11
195
11
9
215
S
4
11
18
25
2005
January
February
School Days
March
Prof'l Days
S
2
9
16
23
30
M
3
10
17
24
31
T
4
11
18
25
W
5
12
19
26
T
6
13
20
27
F
7
14
21
28
S
1
8
15
22
29
S
6
13
20
27
M
7
14
21
28
T
1
8
15
22
April
W
2
9
16
23
T
3
10
17
24
F
4
11
18
25
S
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
M
7
14
21
28
May
S
M
T
W
T
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
F
1
8
15
22
29
S
2
9
16
23
30
S
1
8
15
22
29
M
2
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
17
24
31
W
4
11
18
25
T
1
8
15
22
29
W
2
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
17
24
31
F
4
11
18
25
S
5
12
19
26
W
1
8
15
22
29
T
2
9
16
23
30
F
3
10
17
24
S
4
11
18
25
June
T
5
12
19
26
F
6
13
20
27
S
7
14
21
28
Holiday (12)
No school for pupils and teachers (9)
First and last day for pupils
Professional day for all teachers and A&S (11)
S
M
T
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
(10-mo)
Holidays
No school
Total
ATTACHMENT C
SCHOOL CONTINGENCY CALENDAR
2004–2005
If the school year should be disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed—
5 days—the school year will be extended by one day, to June 17, 2005;
6 days—the school year will be extended by two days, June 17 and 20, 2005;
7 days—the school year will be extended by three days, to June 17, 20,
and 21, 2005;
8 days—the school year will be extended by four days, to June 17, 20, 21,
and 22, 2005; and
9 days—the school year will be extended by five days, to June 17, 20, 21,
22, and 23, 2005.