Montgomery County implements color-coded system for announcing school delays, closures

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Montgomery County Public Schools has implemented a new color-coded process for informing students, parents and staff when weather requires a delay or closing, and when a closure might justify a shift to virtual instruction.

No more snow days?

Should snow days be turned into remote learning days?

MCPS has six operational status options, which will now be reported by these color-coded messages:

Green: Normal operations

All schools and officers are open on time

Yellow: Two-hour delay

Schools will open two hours later

Blue: Early closing

Schools will close two and a half hours earlier

Orange: Schools closed/Offices open

Schools are closed, but school and administrative offices are open

Red: School system is closed

Schools and offices are closed

Purple: Virtual learning day

Virtual instruction will take place

In making a decision, MCPS says their leaders review information from national and local weather experts, local emergency management officials and the operating status of other government and neighboring school districts.

Montgomery County Public Schools considers virtual learning on snow days

Thursday afternoon, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved a plan to make virtual learning an option on snow days. The plan would not get rid of snow days altogether, however, it could limit them if the weather emergency is predictable and MCPS has time to plan for the transition. FOX 5's Josh Rosenthal has all the details.

Code Purple, which will indicate a shift to virtual learning, will ensure teaching and learning continues during weather emergencies. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has provided this opportunity to local school systems, and the Montgomery County Board of Education approved the virtual plan during its Jan. 12 business meeting.

MCPS says they will follow these steps to let students, families and staff know their plans:

A "Get Ready" announcement (meaning weather is imminent) will be made district-wide.
The decision to offer virtual learning will be made by noon the day before any potential weather.
Student Well-Being Teams will contact identified students and families as a reminder about virtual start times.
Schools will message families to remind them that it is a required school day and how to log in to classes.