Montgomery County Public Schools Adds 4 Extra Days to 2025-26 Calendar After Snow Closures — What Parents Need to Know

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has declared a “Code Red” emergency closure for Monday, February 23, 2026, because of the winter storm blanketing the Washington-area suburbs. All MCPS buildings, offices and extracurricular activities are cancelled; only designated emergency personnel should report to work. What today’s closure means for families • No in-person or virtual classes will be held. • All childcare programs that operate inside MCPS facilities are closed. • Community use of school buildings is suspended. • Central-office help lines will operate on an abbreviated schedule for urgent questions. Make-up day set for June 26 To comply with Maryland’s instructional-hour requirements, MCPS has moved the lost instructional time to Friday, June 26, 2026. That day will now become an early-release make-up day for all students and staff. The change extends the 2025-2026 traditional calendar by one day, so families planning summer travel should adjust their schedules accordingly. Transportation and meal services School buses will not run today, and emergency “grab-and-go” meal sites are also closed because of unsafe road conditions. MCPS says it will provide information later this evening about Tuesday’s operating status after highway crews finish snow-removal assessments. How MCPS decides on a Code Red District officials partner with the National Weather Service, county transportation crews and surrounding school systems when a storm threatens. When forecasts call for heavy snow, ice or sustained sub-freezing temperatures that could endanger students at bus stops, the superintendent can declare a Code Red. Under this designation, both instruction and after-school sports are cancelled to keep travel off the roads while emergency services work. Staying informed Parents and guardians can: • Sign up for MCPS text and email alerts in multiple languages. • Follow @MCPS on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for real-time updates. • Monitor local TV and radio stations that carry MCPS emergency banners. Planning ahead This is the district’s third weather-related closure of the school year. If additional snow days occur, MCPS may need to convert scheduled professional-development days into instructional days or seek a state waiver. Officials encourage families to review the entire 2025-2026 calendar—including spring testing windows, graduation dates and summer program sign-ups—so last-minute adjustments cause minimal disruption. What’s next MCPS will issue its first update about Tuesday’s classes by 6 p.m. tonight and a final decision no later than 5 a.m. Tuesday. Families should prepare for the possibility of a two-hour delay if crews need extra time to clear secondary roads. Bookmark this article and check back for fresh information on bus schedules, meal site reopenings and any further calendar changes as MCPS navigates the remainder of this week’s winter weather.