{"id":1621,"date":"2014-08-14T14:42:26","date_gmt":"2014-08-14T18:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/?p=1621"},"modified":"2015-12-28T14:44:00","modified_gmt":"2015-12-28T19:44:00","slug":"schools-set-to-open-for-the-2014-2015-academic-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/schools-set-to-open-for-the-2014-2015-academic-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Schools Set To Open For The 2014-2015 Academic Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><em>Calvert Is First System To Welcome Back Students<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>For Immediate Release \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486<\/p>\n<p>Maryland public school systems begin re-opening next Tuesday, August 19, as more than one million students prepare to start the 2014-2015 school year.<\/p>\n<p>By the time all schools open their doors on September 2, more than 860,000 K-12 students will fill classrooms and another 250,000 children will be involved in some form of pre-kindergarten, Head Start, or licensed childcare program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn Maryland, we&#8217;ve made the better choice to invest in our schools and in our children. Together, working with students, parents, teachers and school officials all over our great State, we&#8217;ve built one of the highest ranking public school systems in the nation,\u201d\u00a0said Gov. Martin O&#8217;Malley. \u201cAs students return to campus this fall, Maryland schools stand ready to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in our 21st century global economy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Schools begin the second full year of implementation of the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards and the first full administration of the new PARCC state assessments, which are online tests aligned to the State standards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaryland is committed to preparing world-class students with more rigorous standards, meaningful assessment and continuous support for educators,\u201d said State Superintendent of Schools Lillian M. Lowery.\u00a0 \u201cOur students are preparing to meet the needs of local employers and to compete in the global marketplace.\u00a0 They deserve an education that prepares them for college and career-training opportunities without the need for remediation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among the headlines for the new school year:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Continued Integration of College and Career-Ready Standards.\u00a0 <\/strong>More than 4,000 educators this summer took part in the voluntary College and Career Readiness Conferences, a follow-up to the successful Educator Effectiveness Academies, which took place the previous three summers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Better Assessments Aligned to Higher Standards.<\/strong>\u00a0 New PARCC state assessments aligned to the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards have replaced the MSAs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Strengthening Educator Evaluations. <\/strong>\u00a0All school systems are using new evaluations, and State leaders have pledged to work collaboratively to keep improving those systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Developing New Principals.<\/strong>\u00a0 A new program was launched in Maryland to help prepare a new generation of school leaders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Expanding Academic Requirements, Programs.<\/strong>\u00a0 The Class of 2015 is the first to benefit from Maryland\u2019s environmental literacy requirement.\u00a0 This school year also will see major expansion in some Career and Technology Education programs, including Computer Science.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Boosting Early Learning.\u00a0 <\/strong>A new grant will open up more quality PreK programs to economically disadvantaged students.\u00a0 In addition, a new PreK assessment will help teachers and parents better understand the learning needs of Maryland\u2019s youngest learners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Helping Students with Disabilities.<\/strong>\u00a0 School systems are required to provide more information to parents of students with disabilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Maryland Welcomes New Charter Schools. <\/strong>\u00a0Two new charter schools are scheduled to open this fall, bringing the total to 50.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Keeping Students Healthy.<\/strong>\u00a0 Maryland\u2019s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is requiring new immunizations for children entering kindergarten and seventh grade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Enrollment in Maryland public schools has been on a steady rise for the past five years.\u00a0 After reaching a high point of 869,113 students in 2004, enrollment fell to 843,861 by 2009.\u00a0 Since then it has rebounded, reaching 866,169 students last school year \u2013 the State\u2019s highest enrollment level since its record setting year of 2004.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland\u2019s student population also has experienced major changes over the past decade.\u00a0 Maryland has educated a majority-minority student population for several years.\u00a0 White students represent nearly 41 percent of the student population, followed by African American students, who make up 35 percent of the student population.\u00a0 Both the White and African American student populations have been in decline as a percentage of the student body in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Hispanic students represent 14 percent of the student body, while Asian students account for approximately six percent.\u00a0 Percentages of Hispanic and Asian students have been steadily rising.\u00a0 Also increasing is the percentage of students identifying themselves as two or more races.<\/p>\n<p>This accounts for nearly about 4 percent of Maryland students.<\/p>\n<p>Also increasing in the State\u2019s schools is the percentage of students coming from circumstances of poverty.\u00a0 Last year, for example, 50.4 percent of Maryland elementary students were eligible for free- or reduced-price meals, the federal proxy for poverty.\u00a0 Ten years earlier that tally stood at 37.1 percent \u2013 a dramatic increase over the decade.<\/p>\n<p>More information on Maryland school demographics can be found on the Maryland Report Card website,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mdreportcard.org\/\">www.MdReportCard.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>College and Career Ready Standards<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland\u2019s College and Career Ready Standards were fully implemented at all public schools for the past year, but for many students and educators the Standards are already old hat.\u00a0 Schools worked on implementation for three years before fully implementing them in the fall of 2013.<\/p>\n<p>The Standards are based on the Common Core, a state-led movement to raise the academic bar throughout the nation.\u00a0 More than 40 states continue to move forward with improved standards in reading\/English language arts and mathematics, intent on preparing students to graduate from high school without the need for remediation in college and career-training programs.\u00a0 Currently more than half of Maryland high school graduates who enroll in Maryland colleges and universities must take at least one remedial course.\u00a0 Remedial courses add time and cost, and make completion of postsecondary education less likely.\u00a0 The development process for Maryland\u2019s internationally benchmarked standards, developed from the Common Core State Standards, drew on the expertise of more than 10,000 educators and other experts.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly 4,000 educators from across Maryland took part in voluntary College and Career Ready Conferences this past summer.\u00a0 The eight new professional development conferences featured more than 100 different sessions on the new learning standards that are raising the bar for students throughout the State and much of the nation.\u00a0 The conferences followed three straight summers of professional development by more than 7,000 teachers and principals during the Educator Effectiveness Academies.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, more than 100 Maryland educators took part in the FAME (Formative Assessment for Maryland Educators) Summer Institute this past July.\u00a0 The Summer Institute provided an opportunity for school leadership to receive intensive instruction in formative assessment, a tool used by teachers and students during instruction that provides feedback to boost learning.<\/p>\n<p>New tools for teachers and parents can be found at MSDE\u2019s BlackBoard site:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/msde.blackboard.com\/webapps\/portal\/frameset.jsp\">https:\/\/msde.blackboard.com\/webapps\/portal\/frameset.jsp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>More information on Maryland\u2019s College and Career-Ready Standards can be found at:<a title=\"Maryland\u2019s College and Career-Ready Standards\" href=\"http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/ccss\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/ccss<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Building Better Assessments<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland schools will hold the first administration of new assessments aligned to higher standards in the spring of 2015.\u00a0 The Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) assessments will cover English language arts\/literacy and mathematics in grades 3-8 and at the high school level.<\/p>\n<p>The computer-based assessments represent a total reset for Maryland\u2019s accountability system.\u00a0 They are replacing the Maryland School Assessments (MSA), in place for the past decade and given for the final time last spring.\u00a0 The new advanced assessments will provide an entirely different user experience as well as a different scoring system.\u00a0 For the first time, Maryland will be able to examine deeper learning, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communications skills needed for college and career.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland tested the assessments this past spring in virtually all schools. The field test was one of the nation\u2019s most extensive, with 65,000 students taking either the math or English portions.\u00a0 Both the English and the mathematics portions are designed to be taken online, although a paper and pencil version will be available for at least the first three years.\u00a0 PARCC has developed \u201cdevice neutral\u201d assessments, allowing students to take the tests on a range of devices including desktops, laptops, netbooks, and tablets.<\/p>\n<p>Results from the new PARCC assessments will not be used for school or educator accountability until the 2016-17 school year.\u00a0 For more on the PARCC assessments, see<a title=\"PARCC\" href=\"http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/parcc\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/parcc<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Improving Educator Evaluations<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland\u2019s major education organizations this summer joined with the Maryland State Board of Education and the Maryland State Department of Education in a pledge to further strengthen educator evaluations.<\/p>\n<p>A landmark new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed June 27 pledged to coordinate resources and strategies in the development of rigorous and measurable Student Learning Objectives (SLOs).\u00a0 The SLOs, developed jointly by teachers and principals, are a key factor in Maryland\u2019s new teacher-principal evaluation system.<\/p>\n<p>The Maryland State Board of Education, Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland State Education Association (MSEA), Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM), Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP) and the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) signed the MOU.<\/p>\n<p>Student Learning Objectives are measurable goals that educators and their supervisors develop and agree upon at the start of each school year.\u00a0 These objectives are reviewed at year\u2019s end, as part of the evaluation process.<\/p>\n<p>Under the MOU, the partners agreed to:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Focus on continuing professional development for teachers and principals in developing rigorous SLOs;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Identify and develop a diverse group of leaders to develop professional development on the SLO process;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Establish a network for collaboration on SLO development;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Initiate a study of the SLO process, to be completed by August 2016.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland school systems in 2013-14 implemented new Teacher-Principal Evaluation Systems.\u00a0 Those systems include both professional practices measures and student growth measures.\u00a0 Maryland piloted evaluation systems in seven districts during the 2011-12 school year, and evaluation systems were field tested in 22 districts during the 2012-13 school year.<\/p>\n<p>To read the MOU on evaluations, go to: <a href=\"http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/press\/06_27_2014.html\">http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/press\/06_27_2014.html<\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Developing New Principals<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A new generation of Maryland school leaders converged on Solomons Island this summer for the first Governor\u2019s Promising Principals Academy and School Leadership Pipeline Initiative.<\/p>\n<p>The Academy was a unique effort by the Maryland State Department of Education to prepare a new cadre of principals.\u00a0 Research has repeatedly shown that an effective principal is the key to a successful school.<\/p>\n<p>Two participants from each of Maryland\u2019s 24 local school systems have been taking part in the Academy.\u00a0 Participants were nominated by their local superintendent based on their interest, current position, and leadership potential.\u00a0 The summer conference\u2014aligned to principal training and evaluation standards\u2014was the first time the entire cohort of promising principals gathered as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>Participants had been immersed in intensive professional development on subjects ranging from synergistics to ethics.\u00a0 Their preparation will continue this school year.<\/p>\n<p>For more on the Promising Principals Academy, see: <a title=\"Promising Principals Academy\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/promisingprincipals\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/promisingprincipals.<\/a><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Requiring Environmental Literacy<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland in 2010 became the first state in the nation to institute environmental literacy standards.\u00a0 This year\u2019s seniors \u2013 the graduating class of 2015 \u2013 will be the first class to complete their high school years under those requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland\u2019s environmental literacy requirement is not a stand-alone course, but rather a set of standards embedded in science and other courses throughout a student\u2019s path of study. Beginning with the 2011-12 academic year, all students were required to complete a locally designed high school program of environmental literacy set forth in State regulation.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland has a long history of environmental education and awareness in its schools.\u00a0 For example, Maryland has had honorees selected in each of the three years that the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Green Schools program has been in existence.\u00a0 Earlier this month, federal officials announced that three Maryland schools will be part of its \u201cGreen Strides\u201d tour this fall.\u00a0 See:<a title=\"Green Strides\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/press\/08_06_2014.html\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/press\/08_06_2014.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For more on Maryland\u2019s environmental education program, see:<a title=\"Maryland\u2019s environmental education program\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/environment\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/environment\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Expanding Career and Technology Education<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland schools are expanding Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs of study for the 2014-15 school year.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the Information Technology (IT) Software Pathway program, Computer Science, is being added to 12 high schools this fall\u2014its second year of existence\u2014bringing the total number of schools implementing the program to 18 across 11 school systems.\u00a0 Upon completion of the program sequence, students may earn college credit through the AP computer science exam.\u00a0 In addition, a new program in Environmental and Natural Resources developed in partnership with Towson University is being piloted this fall at schools in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Prince George\u2019s, and Washington counties.<\/p>\n<p>More established CTE programs also are growing.\u00a0 The Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education, launched in 2009, has grown to 29 schools in 14 counties plus Baltimore City.\u00a0 The Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences program started with 181 students in 2008.\u00a0 There were 1,928 students in the program in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>For more on Maryland\u2019s CTE programs, go to:<a title=\"Maryland\u2019s CTE programs\" href=\"http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/divisions\/careertech\/career_technology\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/divisions\/careertech\/career_technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Giving Early Learners a Great Start<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland\u2019s publicly funded prekindergarten programs for four-year olds have been in existence since 1980.\u00a0 Today, more than 28,000\u2014or 35 percent of all four-year olds\u2014attend PreK in 70 percent of all elementary schools.\u00a0 These programs give children an important boost on learning.<\/p>\n<p>This summer Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown announced an additional $4.3 million in Prekindergarten Expansion Grants to 24 PreK providers throughout the State, which will add another 1,500 seats for economically disadvantaged children.<\/p>\n<p>More on the PreK expansion can be found here:<a href=\"http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/press\/07_28_2014_a.html\">http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/press\/07_28_2014_a.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Maryland has been among the nation\u2019s leaders in assessing a student\u2019s readiness for kindergarten.\u00a0 Beginning this school year, Maryland will be using a new tool to learn more about each child\u2019s early learning experiences that will provide information to parents and teachers.\u00a0 The new Kindergarten Readiness Assessment will be used by kindergarten teachers to measure student skills and knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>For more on the new assessment, see <a href=\"http:\/\/maryland.kready.org\/R4K\">http:\/\/maryland.kready.org\/R4K<\/a><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>New Maryland Special Education Legislation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Local school systems are now required to provide the parents of students with disabilities a verbal and written explanation of their rights and responsibilities in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process with their copy of the \u201cParental Rights: Maryland Procedural Safeguards Notice\u201d document.\u00a0 Parents may also request this information at any IEP team meeting.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, local school systems are required to provide parents, at various IEP meetings, with information about access to habilitative services, including a copy of the Maryland Insurance Administration\u2019s \u201cParents Guide to Habilitative Services.\u201d The <em>Parents\u2019 Guide to Habilitative Services <\/em>is available in English and Spanish and may be accessed at:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mdinsurance.state.md.us\/sa\/consumer\/health-coverage.html\">http:\/\/www.mdinsurance.state.md.us\/sa\/consumer\/health-coverage.html<\/a>; or from the Maryland State Department of Education web site at<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/divisions\/earlyinterv\/Special_Ed_Info.html\">http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/divisions\/earlyinterv\/Special_Ed_Info.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In addition, MSDE\u2019s Division of Special Education\/Early Intervention Services hosts a large number of helpful publications on its website.\u00a0 Find them at:<a href=\"http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/divisions\/earlyinterv\/Special_Ed_Info.htm\">http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/divisions\/earlyinterv\/Special_Ed_Info.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New Charter Schools<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Two new public charter schools will open in Maryland this school year, bringing the total number of charters in the state to 50, Maryland\u2019s charter schools will enroll nearly 20,000 students this fall.\u00a0 This year\u2019s new schools:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Monarch Global Academy Laurel will open serving grades K through 5.\u00a0 It is the third\u00a0Monarch charter school, joining Monarch Academy Glen Burnie also in Anne Arundel County and Monarch Academy Baltimore (City).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Chesapeake Math and IT South Public Charter will open in Prince George\u2019s County\u00a0with grades 6 and 7.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition,\u00a0the existing Chesapeake Math and IT Academy in Prince George\u2019s County will expand. The school opened in 2011 with 6th\u00a0and 7th\u00a0grades with a plan to grow to 12th\u00a0grade.\u00a0 This fall\u2019s expansion will add grades K through 5 to its program.<\/p>\n<p>The establishment of Chesapeake Math and IT South and the expansion of Chesapeake Math and IT and have been made possible with funding from Maryland\u2019s Race to the Top grant and in partnership with Prince Georges County Public Schools.<\/p>\n<p>For more about Maryland\u2019s charter schools, visit:<a title=\"Maryland\u2019s charter schools\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/charter_schools\/?WBCMODE=Presentat%25\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/programs\/charter_schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Additional Vaccine Requirements<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maryland students and their families have new vaccine requirements this year, which were adopted by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).<\/p>\n<p>DHMH is now requiring that all Maryland kindergarten students have two doses of the chickenpox (varicella) vaccinations before entering school.\u00a0 In addition, all seventh graders must receive a pertussis booster (Tdap) and a dose of the meningitis vaccine.\u00a0 Health officials emphasize that such vaccinations are the best defense parents have against the illnesses.<\/p>\n<p>More information is available here: <a href=\"http:\/\/dhmh.maryland.gov\/newsroom1\/Pages\/NEW-SCHOOL-IMMUNIZATION-REQUIREMENTS-FOR-MARYLAND-KINDERGARTEN-AND-7TH-GRADE-STUDENTS.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/dhmh.maryland.gov\/newsroom1\/Pages\/NEW-SCHOOL-IMMUNIZATION-REQUIREMENTS-FOR-MARYLAND-KINDERGARTEN-AND-7TH-GRADE-STUDENTS.aspx.<\/a><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><strong>Connecting with Maryland Public Education<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>MSDE continues to bolster its outreach with parents, stakeholders, and the public interested in our State\u2019s public schools.<\/p>\n<p>MarylandPublicSchools.org, MSDE\u2019s webpage, offers a pathway to information on everything from curriculum to assessment scores.\u00a0 In addition, MSDE has a regularly updated Facebook page, providing users with information and photos about events and issues in the news. You can join MSDE at Facebook.com\/MdPublicSchools.\u00a0 For the quickest access, follow MSDE on Twitter, @MdPublicSchools.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>School Start Dates<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Calvert County is the first system to open this year, welcoming students next Tuesday, August 19, although the statewide SEED school opens its doors on August 18.\u00a0 The remaining systems:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>August 20 \u2013 St. Mary\u2019s and Washington counties<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>August 21 \u2013 Cecil County<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>August 25 \u2013 Allegany, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne\u2019s, Somerset, and Wicomico counties, and Baltimore City<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>August 26 \u2013 Caroline, Dorchester, Prince George\u2019s, and Talbot counties<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>August 27 \u2013 Baltimore County<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>September 2 \u2013 Worcester County<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Please note that some individual schools and grades have different start dates.\u00a0 Check with your local school system for more information.<\/p>\n<p>MSDE\u2019s round-up of school openings and closings can be found <a title=\"school openings and closings\" href=\"http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/MSDE\/schoolsystems\/System_Opening_Closings.htm\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Calvert Is First System To Welcome Back Students<br \/>\nFor Immediate Release \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486<br \/>\nMaryland public school systems begin re-opening next Tuesday, August 19, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/schools-set-to-open-for-the-2014-2015-academic-year\/\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&#8230;Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-newsreleases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1621"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1622,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1621\/revisions\/1622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}