The school calendar is developed by a Calendar Committee which includes representatives from the Caroline County Education Association, parents, support staff, principals, and central office staff. Within the parameters set by state law, the committee develops a calendar for the superintendent to recommend to the Board. The final decision rests with the Board of Education.
The state of Maryland requires that students attend school for a minimum of 180 days each year. Local Boards of Education have the option to require more than 180 days of instruction but not fewer.
A 2015 Executive Order required that the school year begin after Labor Day and end by June 15, although the later legislation allowed for schools to add an additional five (5) days in June. State law also dictates that three (3) inclement weather days be built into the calendar.
The number of days that teachers work is determined by each local Board of Education through the teacher contract. The current negotiated agreement between the Caroline County Board of Education and the Caroline County Education Association calls for teachers to work 194 days.
Maryland law requires that all public schools be closed on the following days:
- Thanksgiving
- Friday following Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Presidents’ Day
- Friday before Easter
- Monday after Easter
- Memorial Day
Non-student days and half days address several needs. These days are used for parent-teacher conferences, professional development for teachers, and to give teachers time to grade exams, write or revise student support plans, and meet in teams within and among schools.
The teacher contract calls for one day to be set aside so teachers can attend the Maryland State Education Association Conference. Professional development for teachers is critical to implementing research-based instructional practices to improve student achievement.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) considers any school day a full school day when the school is open for instruction for a time no less than 50 percent of the regular school day.
It is often suggested that two half days be combined so students have a full day off instead. However, this would only count 1 day towards the 180 total, rather than 2 days.