Students Could Start School Year Later With New AACPS Proposal

ANNE ARUNDEL CO., MD — A proposal put before the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County aims for students to start classes later in the year.

A release issued by the school system states the 2027-2028 academic year could start on Aug. 30 and end on June 14.

The proposed start date would put students starting classes five days later than the current school year, and six days later than the looming 2026-2027 academic calendar.

Proposed changes to the school year are based on calendar flexibility legislation approved by the Maryland General Assembly that requires officials to meet a minimum number of hours at all school levels.

The move is a shift away from requiring schools to both hold instruction for a total of 180 days and ensure students are in classes for a set number of hours.

Also included in the proposed calendar:

• Five-day Thanksgiving break
• Six-day Christmas/winter and Easter/spring breaks for students
• Four half-days
• Four non-instructional days after the end of each period, allowing teachers to complete grading
• One non-instructional day for only elementary and middle schools
• Closing all schools for Yom Kippur and Election Day
• Closing high schools for graduation day

Also built into the proposed calendar are three days that can be used for inclement-weather-related school closures.

Although the last day of school is listed for June 14, 2028, the release states the three days would be deducted from the end of the school year if they are not used.

The calendar was drafted by the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Calendar Committee and presented before the school board on April 22.

Officials are scheduled to discuss and adopt an official calendar during their May 6 meeting.