Harford County School Board Approves Pre-Labor Day Start For 2023-2024

HAVRE DE GRACE - Harford County public school students can expect a longer summer in 2023.

The Harford County Board of Education approved its 2023-2024 school year calendar at a board meeting on Monday night. The 2023 school year will feature a pre-labor day start and an extended summer break.

In 2016, Gov. Larry Hogan mandated a post-Labor Day start to increase revenue at Ocean City and other vacation destinations. The Maryland General Assembly overturned Hogan’s decision in 2019, returning calendar-making powers to county school boards.

The new calendar was developed by members of the board-appointed Calendar Committee and was presented to the board on Sep. 19.

HCPS received 793 comments on the proposal, with 709 mentioning the start date. Even though 466 of the 709 comments were for a post-Labor Day start, the board approved the new calendar with a 6-3 vote.

Schools and offices will continue to be closed on federal holidays, including Martin Luther King Day in January, Presidents Day in February, and Memorial Day in May, as well as the Jewish High Holiday of Yom Kippur in September.

All breaks will now start with an early dismissal day, with Thanksgiving break beginning with an early dismissal on Nov. 22, Winter break starting with an early dismissal on Dec. 22, and Spring break starting on Mar. 22, 2024, with an early dismissal.

Schools and offices will also be closed Mar. 27 through Apr. 1, 2024, as teachers participate in professional development training.

The new calendar has room for six inclement weather days. Assuming none are used, school will end on June 5, 2024. The last day will be June 15 if all of those days are used.