Harford County Public Schools might implement a virtual learning plan for overflow inclement weather closures if all makeup days are used in the coming school year.

Per legislation passed during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session, local school systems can conduct virtual learning on inclement weather days after all makeup days are exhausted. The Maryland State Department of Education would require that at least four of the hours of instruction on remote days be taught live by a teacher, known as synchronous learning.

Inclement weather makes up days are days added to the end of the school year to replace each day Harford County schools are closed due to poor weather. The makeup days are inserted in the district’s annual calendar and approved by the Harford County Board of Education each year.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the district built in six inclement weather makeup days and used five. Harford schools did not use virtual learning last school year.

Makeup days are necessary for the district to meet the Maryland State Board of Education’s requirement of 180 days of instructional time for students. Should Harford schools close for more than the number of days they have allotted for inclement weather makeup days, the local school board would either need to request that the state waive the 180-day requirement or explore other options to meet the requirement.

A virtual learning plan for overflow closures would alleviate the chances of the school system needing to request a 180-day waiver since students would be able to receive instructional time remotely.

Parents and staff are asked to provide their feedback through a survey on the school system’s website on the possible use of virtual learning next school year. Once feedback is gathered, the district will sculpt a plan to present to the Board of Education for its approval. The plan would also need state Board of Education approval before being finalized.

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