Montgomery County Public Schools announced a Code Green for Thursday, February 5, meaning all schools and offices will open on time. Before and after school childcare programs, as well as Community Use activities, will operate as scheduled.
In a message on its website, MCPS acknowledged the frustration caused by the prolonged snow and ice event, noting that while snow days can feel fun at first, extended closures quickly create challenges for families, staff, and students.
School officials emphasized that their goal after any weather-related closure is to return to normal operations as quickly and safely as possible. They said this particular storm was unusually severe, describing it as a “massive snow and ice event” that led to significant disruption across the county.
MCPS outlined several factors that influence decisions to close or reopen schools, including whether buses can safely travel neighborhood roads, whether school facilities are fully operational, sidewalk safety for student walkers, staff access to buildings, and overall visibility during icy conditions. Officials noted that more than 50 bus routes were unable to complete runs on a recent day due to road conditions.
The district thanked building services, maintenance, transportation, food service staff, county partners, and community members who helped clear roads and sidewalks during the storm.
Looking ahead, MCPS said it is planning changes for future prolonged weather events. The district is developing an extended closure learning plan that could include virtual learning during long shutdowns, pending state approval. MCPS also acknowledged the need to expand snow removal capacity, update equipment, and increase staffing and contractor support to better handle severe winter weather.
Regarding the school calendar, MCPS said four instructional days must currently be made up under state law. March 20 will become a full instructional day, and June 18 will be an early-release instructional day and the new last day of school for students and staff. Additional make-up days are being considered, though none would occur in February.
MCPS added that it plans to request a waiver from the state for some missed instructional days and will update families once a decision is made and the calendar is finalized.
