Tired Of Early Dismissals? Help Is On The Way

As parents of students in Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), we’ve all been there. You do your best to keep up with routines, juggle work and school schedules, and maintain some sense of balance — only to realize there’s yet another early dismissal day on the calendar. Let’s be honest: these days are tough on everyone. They disrupt learning, create child care challenges, upend work schedules, and make it harder for educators to maximize instructional time.

That’s why, as chair of the Anne Arundel County senate delegation — and as a parent of children in AACPS schools — I’m incredibly proud that we finally passed legislation during the 2025 session to address this longstanding frustration. This bill, introduced year after year without success, finally crossed the finish line thanks to a focused, collaborative approach.

The result is a pilot program that gives AACPS greater flexibility under state law when it comes to meeting instructional time requirements. State law currently mandates both a minimum number of days and hours in the school year, which limits the district’s ability to structure the calendar in a way that works best for students and families. This pilot creates room for AACPS to prioritize full instructional days and reduce the number of disruptive early dismissals by meeting the required instructional time through hours rather than days.

As we approach the back-to-school season, I’m excited to share that by this time next year (for the 2026-2027 school year), students and families in Anne Arundel County will see at least four fewer early dismissal days on the school calendar compared to the upcoming academic year.

While a handful of early dismissals will remain, such as those tied to high school exams, this change means more consistent instruction for students and fewer disruptions for families. I know firsthand how much smoother things run when our kids are in school for full, structured days — and how much better they’re served in the classroom.

This legislative win was truly a team effort. I’m deeply grateful to Delegate Heather Bagnall, Delegate Andrew Pruski, and the Anne Arundel County House delegation for their unwavering partnership, as well as Senators Pam Beidle, Jim Rosapepe and Bryan Simonaire, and the entire Anne Arundel County Senate delegation for their strong leadership. I also want to thank AACPS leadership, including Superintendent Mark Bedell and the Board of Education. In particular, I want to recognize board member Dana Schallheim, whose consistent advocacy and thoughtful engagement on this issue were instrumental in making this progress possible.

This is a meaningful step forward for students, families and educators — and a powerful example of what we can achieve when we work together on student-centered solutions.