HCPSS Announces Results of Calendar Impact Study

September 9th, 2016

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) presented the results of the school system’s Calendar Impact Study at the September 8, 2016 Howard County Board of Education meeting.

In an effort to better understand the impact of staff and student absences for cultural observances, HCPSS conducted a survey in June 2016 to gather data on how these absences would affect the school system’s ability to deliver instruction and operate facilities effectively. HCPSS contracted Hanover Research, an independent research firm, to design, administer and analyze the survey.

Responses from 12,865 HCPSS households and 3,416 staff members were recorded for the survey report. One response per family was collected capturing information for all children in the household. The surveys were offered in four languages, including English, to ensure responses from a diverse cross section of the community. Respondents represented households with students from pre-K through Grade 12 and from all 75 schools, as well as staff from all school levels.

The Calendar Committee will begin meeting next week to review the survey results, and consider them within the context of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s recent executive order to start school after Labor Day and end by June 15. The committee will incorporate the findings of the Academic Calendar Survey Analysis into the development of recommendations for the HCPSS 2017–2018 academic calendar.