Cambridge Public Schools to Hold Classes on March 18 Following Four Winter Cancellations

Cambridge Public Schools will hold classes on March 18 — reversing a previously scheduled day off for students — in an effort to make up for weather-related cancellations this winter, Superintendent David G. Murphy announced Wednesday.

The change converts what had been a professional development day with no student instruction into a regular school day. With the added instructional time, the district’s last day of classes will move up from June 29 to June 26 — avoiding what would have been the latest end date for the district in at least four years.

CPS canceled school four times this winter due to inclement weather. Massachusetts requires school districts to hold a minimum of 180 instructional days each year, and the cancellations forced administrators to find additional time in the calendar.

District officials said the change is intended to ensure the school year ends at a “reasonable date” while still meeting state requirements.

Murphy first floated the idea of converting the professional development day at a School Committee meeting last week, during a broader discussion about the district’s snow-day protocols. CPS has historically closed school for the entire day during inclement weather rather than opting for early releases or delays — a practice that came under scrutiny after an unusually heavy winter of snowfall.

At the meeting, School Committee members questioned whether the district’s all-or-nothing approach to closures was the best policy. The committee unanimously passed an order directing Murphy and district administrators to review existing protocols and report back with recommendations by the end of the semester.

School Committee Member Richard Harding Jr. raised concerns about the quality of instruction on shortened school days, saying that many parents may keep their children home when the district announces an abbreviated schedule. Harding encouraged Murphy to “look at what delays would do,” adding that he wanted to ensure every instructional day is meaningful.

Murphy acknowledged that the district faces difficult trade-offs. He told committee members that holding school on June 29 — the original last day — would have been a poor option, but conceded that June 26 may not be a much better choice.

“In a lot of respects, at least as our calendar is currently structured, we are choosing between two bad options,” Murphy said.

Harding, who voted in favor of the order, said the district’s snow-day decisions also create logistical challenges for families who rely on schools for childcare during the week.

“Half the people think, ‘Great, it’s a snow day,’” Harding said. “Half the people say, ‘What am I going to do with my kids?’”

In its announcement, CPS acknowledged that the schedule change may disrupt plans already made by families and staff. The district said there will be no Department of Human Service Programs preschool or afterschool programming on March 18.

“We understand that schedule changes can be disruptive, and we appreciate your flexibility as we prioritize consistent and quality learning time for our students,” the district wrote.

—Staff writer Tess E. Sumner can be reached at [email protected].