Snow days are wreaking havoc on some DMV school calendars
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A Maryland school bus in the snow. Photo: Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The DMV may have dodged another big snowstorm this week, but public school districts are already feeling the impact of weather closures and delays.
Why it matters: Some schools have already extended the academic year — and another bout of bad weather could push things further, potentially clashing with camp schedules.
The big picture: It has been a snowier-than-average winter — though not quite record-breaking.
- Nearly 15 inches of snow has fallen in January and February so far, more than doubling last winter's meager 8 inches. It's more snow than D.C. has experienced in over five years.
- Even without a storm, an Arctic blast is expected to plunge D.C. temperatures below freezing Wednesday and Thursday — and there's still a chance of midweek flurries.
State of play: D.C. Public Schools scheduled two days on the calendar for extensions this academic year, which they've used for snow. The last day of school is slated for Friday, June 20.
- Chief communications officer Kera Tyler tells Axios that DCPS will likely share a final end date with families by the second week of March, if not earlier, given winter weather unknowns.
- "It goes without saying that we'd run into attendance challenges if we needed to go into the last week of June. Parents have paid and scheduled for camp," says Tyler. The first session of D.C.'s public summer camp starts June 23.
- "We're going to try and do everything not to extend into that week."
Meanwhile, some Montgomery County Public Schools parents are bemoaning that the school year was extended from Friday, June 13, to the following Monday, June 16, due to inclement weather.
- One parent tells Axios that many families already planned for vacation (that weekend is Father's Day) or camp starting June 16.
Plus: MCPS needs to use another designated makeup day in the district school calendar to meet the state requirement, spokespeople tell Axios.
- MCPS is still working it out and will inform families as soon as possible.
What we're watching: It's a wait-and-see situation with other districts — and not just due to weather. Around 30% of public schools in Prince George's County were forced to close last week due to a water main break, and PGCPS has taken five snow days.
- March 17 will be used as a makeup day, and the school year is extended until at least June 18.
Between the lines: A number of large suburban school districts, which often feel a greater impact from winter storms, have more extensions baked in.
- Fairfax has 10 days and Arlington 13 — so calendars aren't currently impacted (ditto for Falls Church).
- Loudoun County has longer school days than what's required by the state, so recent snow closings won't change the calendar.