The Board of Education is accepting public comment on the 2023-2024 school year calendar presented to it by the Calendar Committee at its most recent meeting and will consider the comment prior to adopting a calendar next month.
At its November 16, 2022, meeting, the Board received the Calendar Committee’s recommendations on the 2023-2024 school year calendar. The Board asked the 24-member committee to provide two calendars, one with a Pre-Labor Day start for students and one with a Post-Labor Day start for students. The Committee did so, and indicated a preference for a Pre-Labor Day start. Links to both calendar proposals, more information on them, and a place to provide comment can be found at www.aacps.org/2324calendar.
The calendar proposals maintain the holiday closings contained in the current school year calendar, In addition to the recommendation for a Pre-Labor Day start for students, the Committee is recommending the following changes to the calendar for next school year in both calendar proposals:
- Elimination of the three partial days designated for parent-teacher conferences (one in the fall and two in the spring). This recommendation came after considerable Committee discussion around the effectiveness of those conferences and the inconvenience to families of the altered schedules. The Committee also discussed and endorsed the exploration of alternative additional ways to schedule such conferences.
- The institution of a non-student day for elementary and middle school students only to allow for additional teacher professional development. This consideration is due in large part to the increased number conditionally certified teachers in Anne Arundel County Public Schools this year and the need for additional professional development around the curriculum. The implementation of this day would not lengthen the school year for any students as those at the elementary and middle school levels have had a 181-day school year for many years (high school students have a 180-day school year because high schools are closed on the day of their graduation).
The 24-member committee is made up of parents, students, bargaining unit representatives, and AACPS staff from key departments across the school system.
A video of the November 16, 2022, presentation to the Board can also be found at www.aacps.org/2324calendar.
Public Comment on the calendar proposals is being accepted through December 2, 2022.