Delegation urges State Board waiver and supports bills to make certain religious observances non‑instructional days

Montgomery County’s delegation spent significant time on bills to make several religious and cultural observances official non‑instructional days for public schools and on related school‑operations flexibility to avoid future conflicts with snow makeup days.

Kathleen Boucher summarized MC926, which would require schools to be closed to students on Diwali, Eid al Adha, Eid al Fitr, the Lunar New Year, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Juneteenth beginning with the 2027–28 school year. She said the bill mirrors a version that had been amended in the House previously and that the county’s Board of Education believes the bill is consistent with the MCPS calendar for 2026–27. The delegation discussed the operational consequences after a snow day forced MCPS to use a planned Eid non‑instructional day as a makeup instructional day this year; members said MCPS has requested a waiver from the Maryland State Board of Education to restore Eid as a non‑instructional day for this school year.

Council members repeatedly voiced support for ensuring calendar equity and urged coordination with SEIU and MCPS on staffing and implementation impacts. Council vice president Marilyn Balcom and Education Committee chair Will Giordano pressed for emergency legislation or an urgent waiver to cover this school year, with Giordano saying a waiver request should be covered in the delegation's letter. Multiple members asked staff to send a letter to the Maryland State Board of Education supporting MCPS’s waiver request and to urge passage of the related state bills, while acknowledging that implementation details (e.g., targets, staff scheduling, and bargaining unit impacts) must be worked out.

The delegation recorded support in concept but held several items for further clarification and amendment to ensure MCPS and employee groups are accommodated. Staff said they will coordinate with MCPS, SEIU and the delegation on amendments and on a letter urging MSDE to grant a waiver where appropriate.

Next steps: staff will prepare the requested letters and follow up with MCPS and State Board of Education; the delegation will monitor committee discussions on MC926 and the related MC1426 school‑operations bill.