The Board of Education today [Tuesday, May 11] approved modifications to next year’s school calendar to eliminate some professional days for teachers, combine certain early release days into single days, and add new early release days for planning and grading. The new calendar results in an earlier closure of the school year for students on June 15, 2005.

The modifications reflect changes recently negotiated between the Board of Education and the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA). The new calendar modifies the previously approved 2004-2005 calendar adopted by the Board of Education in December. The first day of school remains on Monday, August 30, 2004.

In summary, three of the 11 professional days for teachers were eliminated effective next year. Two early release days at the end of the first and third marking periods were combined into one full day at the end of both the first and third marking periods for report card preparation and planning. In addition, two early release days have been added for planning and/or grading -- one to occur during each semester.

The changes, as adopted by the Board today, include:

* The professional day on August 23, 2004, is eliminated, and the first day for teachers for the 2004–2005 school year is August 24, 2004.

* The professional day on October 1, 2004, is eliminated and designated as a school day.

* The professional day on October 15, 2004, is a no-school day for students and teachers (Maryland State Teachers Association Convention).

* The scheduled school day on November 1, 2004, is designated as a professional day for report card preparation and planning by combining two previously scheduled early release days.

* The professional day on January 25, 2005, is eliminated and designated as a school day. The January 24, 2005, professional day is now scheduled as a day for teachers to complete first semester grades and plan for second semester.

* The scheduled school day on April 8, 2005, is designated as a professional day for report card preparation and planning by combining two previously scheduled early release days.

* The professional day on April 29, 2005, is eliminated and designated as a school day.

* The last day of school for students is changed from June 16 to June 15, 2005.

* The last day for teachers is changed from June 17 to June 16, 2005.

Changes in Use of Professional Time

The agreement with the MCEA reconfigures three of the professional days into 24 hours of professional time to provide flexibility to meet the needs of schools and individual teams and departments. The time will not be scheduled into the school calendar. Scheduling these 24 hours will involve work after the normal school day, on weekends, or other days not scheduled as duty days for teachers, including additional pre-service time. Each principal will work collaboratively with the school’s leadership team or each department to determine how the time will be used.

Contingency Calendar Changes

n addition, revisions of the 2004–2005 contingency calendar were approved to accommodate the earlier last day of school. If schools are disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed:

* 5 days, the school year will be extended by 1 day to June 16, 2005;
* 6 days, the school year will be extended by 2 days to June 16 and 17, 2005;
* 7 days, the school year will be extended by 3 days to June 16, 17, and 20, 2005;
* 8 days, the school year will be extended by 4 days to June 16, 17, 20, and 21, 2005; and
* 9 days, the school year will be extended by 5 days to June 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22, 2005.