January 24, 2013: The Frederick County Board of Education approved the 2013-14 academic calendar last night. The first school day for students will be Monday, August 19, with teachers reporting August 13.
The last day of school for students will be Wednesday, June 11, and for teachers Thursday, June 12, assuming that schools observe five days for inclement weather. The school year will be shortened if fewer than five snow days are needed. If more days are needed, the school system will announce make-up days.
Other highlights of the approved calendar are as follows:
• There is no school on Fair Day, Friday, September 20.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for the fall only and include only elementary and middle schools, which open late on November 25 and close early November 26. All parents are encouraged to contact teachers directly to schedule conferences at other times as needed throughout the school year.
• Thanksgiving break is November 27-29.
• Winter break begins December 23, and schools reopen January 2.
• Spring break begins April 14, with schools reopening April 22.
School system staff and Calendar Committee members presented the Board of Education two versions of proposed calendars on January 2. A diverse group of stakeholders participated on the Calendar Committee including FCPS parents, teachers, students, administrators and others. The group based their proposed options on recommendations from representatives of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Council of Frederick County, Frederick Association of School Support Employees, Frederick County Administrative and Supervisory Association and the Frederick County Teachers Association. In addition, public engagement was significant in determining the calendar, with the BOE and Calendar Committee members receiving more than 700 e-mails regarding the options.
In the approved calendar, students attend school 180 days, as Maryland law requires. Teachers work 190 days. On the days that teachers work when school is not in session, they review assessments, prepare lessons, evaluate student work, and engage in professional development.
