The Harford County Public Schools year will be extended by two days following the first two inclement weather closures Monday and Tuesday. The last day of school for Harford school students is now Monday, June 16.

Each day schools are closed for inclement weather equates to one day added to the end of the school year as an in-person make-up day. Should Harford use all six of its inclement weather days, the last day of school would be June 23. (June 19 cannot be used as it is a federal holiday.)

If Harford County Public Schools uses more than six inclement weather days, the school system can request that the Maryland State Board of Education waive its 180-day requirement and forgive the extra closures.

Legislation passed during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session allows local school systems to conduct virtual learning days during inclement weather days only when a district has exhausted all of its inclement weather days.

According to the legislation, virtual learning days in place of inclement weather closures must consist of no less than four hours of synchronous instruction, and asynchronous instruction that is designed to “maximize the advantages of online access.”

Harford’s Board of Education did not implement a plan for virtual learning during inclement weather closures for the 2024-2025 school year, but board President Aaron Poynton said officials are looking to create one for next school year.

“It requires a lot of preparation for the teachers and educators to be able to do quality virtual instruction,” Poynton said. “We would put it in place early next year so there is a plan for educators to provide proper instruction.”

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