Emergency

Be Prepared for Weather-Related School Closures

Winter weather, such as snow and ice, and other emergencies may cause disruptions in school operations, including the closure of school, a delayed opening or an early dismissal.

• Announcements of school closings or delays are made as early as possible, generally in time for news broadcasts that begin at 5 a.m.
• If schools are closing early, those announcements are made by 11 a.m.

There are several ways to get the latest information on closings or delays.

• Sign up to receive emergency announcements through the QuickNotes news service. Check your profile to see whether you're signed up. Information is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Korean and Vietnamese. To subscribe, enter your name and e-mail address under "Get MCPS QuickNotes."
• MCPS Newsfeed - Receive alerts to your computer about Earley dismissals, emergencies, and other news.
• The MCPS home page displays emergency announcements in bold red letters at the top of the page.
• MCPS Cable Channel 34, County Cable Channel 6 and local radio and TV stations broadcast the information as soon as it is made available. (wtopnews.com - view list closures)
• The MCPS information line, 301-279-3673, has recorded information 24 hours a day.
• The Call Center is available at 301-309-6277 (-MCPS). English- and Spanish-speaking operators can answer emergency-related questions between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.