Howard County - Board of Education - Mandatory School Holidays Ho. Co. 11-26

HB 1174 requires Howard County public schools to close for student attendance on specific holidays beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The bill mandates closures for the first day of Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, and Rosh Hashanah, plus full closures for Yom Kippur and Juneteenth. This directly affects Howard County students and public schools by adding these observances to the required holiday schedule. The law amends existing Maryland education code to specify these holidays as mandatory school closures, replacing prior county discretion for these dates. It takes effect July 1, 2026.