Beyond MoCo: Howard County Plans to Repurpose “Snow Days” as Asynchronous Instruction Days

For the 2022-2023 school year, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is allowing local school systems to repurpose up to three inclement weather days as asynchronous instruction days. The HCPSS vision for the asynchronous instruction day includes minimizing the disruption to instructional momentum with a greater value than when adding days to the end of the academic calendar.

Pre-K through 5th grade: Asynchronous instruction day materials will be posted online and will be able to be accessed using a computer, laptop, tablet, phone or other mobile device. Schools will provide printed copies for students as needed. Students will receive a Learning Behaviors (Demonstrates Responsibility) grade for completion of the asynchronous instruction day tasks.

Pre-K students are expected to:

• Complete two asynchronous instruction day tasks; and
• Indicate attendance by submitting completed task upon return to school.

K-5 students are expected to:

• Complete one asynchronous instruction day task per curricular area: Math, ELA, Content (science, social studies, or health), and assigned related arts class scheduled for that day; and
• Indicate attendance by submitting completed tasks upon return to school.

Grades 6-12: All students in grades 6-12 have an HCPSS-issued device, and should have it at home for use on inclement weather asynchronous instruction days. Secondary students may access assignments for each course in Canvas as early as two hours after the start of the regular school day.