School Calendar Requirements
INST 2.1
Principals of Archdiocesan schools prepare a school calendar that includes 175 instructional days, as required by the Department of Catholic Schools as well as additional professional and inclement weather days.
Purpose:
To provide requisite time for instructional growth of the students.
To ensure time for a well-developed program of professional growth opportunities in a school.
Commentary/Procedural Points:
All schools will begin the year with an Archdiocesan Convocation Mass.
The common start date and end dates are indicated on the return calendar.
Trimesters have been established for elementary schools with corresponding end and store dates for PowerSchool.
A faculty retreat day must be included in the calendar.
Professional development must be included in the annual school calendar. Principals should submit a professional development plan to their Associate that includes a minimum of 20 hours of professional development and a minimum of 20 hours of faith formation.
The calendar includes a minimum of three inclement weather days. If these days are not used, the days remain on the calendar.
Calendars must include 170 instructional days as required by the State of Maryland.
Calendars must include an additional 5 instructional days (for a total of 175) as required by the Department of Catholic Schools given that our mission is unique. Using the 5 additional instructional days for additional inclement weather days or for other purposes requires consultation with the Associate Superintendent and approval by the Superintendent.
A maximum of twelve (12) four-hour instructional days may be included in the school calendar. In June, half days may only be used in the last week.
If available between the first student day and the last student day “flex” date(s) can be built in by the principal to close their school to best meet the needs of their school community i.e. special days within the community.
Calendars must be submitted to the Department of Catholic Schools by March 15.
8th Grade graduation is to be held in June.
The calendar includes 5 faculty workdays prior to the first day of school and 1facultyworkday after the last student day.
All schools are required to remain open a minimum of four days per week and a minimum of 20 hours per week during the summer.
References:
January 12, 2022