Frederick County Public Schools Seeks Input on School Calendar

Frederick County Public Schools has posted a draft 2017-2018 academic calendar online for public review and comment. The draft aligns with Governor Hogan’s Executive Order to start school after Labor Day and end by June 15.

The proposed calendar eliminates many days off for students. For instance, the current year calendar provides only five full weeks of the first twelve, or nine days off by November 11, 2016. The proposed calendar provides three and a half days off up until November 11, 2017.

The Great Frederick Fair has taken issue with the proposed calendar, because it combines “Fair Day” with a Jewish Holiday which will not fall on Friday of the fair. “Fair Day” on the FCPS calendar allows children to attend the fair on “Kids’ Day” at The Great Frederick Fair. Children aged eighteen years and younger receive free admission until five o’clock on Kids’ Day.

The Fair’s Facebook page featured a post stating, “HELP KEEP FAIR FRIDAY on the FCPS calendar! Please send your feedback/comments supporting Fair Friday, an important tradition since 1880!”

Frederick County Public Schools combined “Fair Day” with a Jewish Holy Day once before. The fair does not provide numbers, but said it impacted their bottom line.

GladeValley.net has published an editorial on this topic in support of Fair Day remaining on Friday of fair week.

Others have complained that “Spring Break” will be limited to Good Friday and Easter Monday on the proposed calendar. The current calendar provides six days off of school.

FCPS encourages the public to review calendar information at www.fcps.org/calendar and follow the instructions to submit comments through Wednesday, November 30. Responses will go to the diverse group of Calendar Committee members, the Superintendent and Board of Education members.

Calendar Committee members include FCPS parents, teachers, administrators, a student, a business representative and others. They based their recommendations on maximizing instructional time for students, legal requirements and feedback from representatives of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Council of Frederick County, Frederick Association of School Support Employees, Frederick County Administrative and Supervisory Association, the Frederick County Teachers Association and the public.