Snow Closings & Delays Occasionally, inclement weather and other safety or health conditions require FCPS to close, delay opening or dismiss early all or some schools. This decision involves careful evaluation of a variety of ­factors in a compressed time ­period. Whenever possible, decisions are made by 5 a.m. for morning closings and delays and by 10:00 a.m. for early closings, and announced soon after.   FCPS does not routinely announce that schools are open or operating on schedule, only that they are closed, delayed or dismissing early.   PreKindergarten Schedule    When school opens 2 hours late, preK sessions are abbreviated to 1-1/2 hours. Morning classes start 2 hours late with the rest of the grades at the school and ­dismiss 1 hour later than usual. The afternoon session starts 1 hour later than usual and dismisses at the regular time. Breakfast is served. This schedule is intended to provide all preK students equitable instruc­tional time.   Career & Technology Center     When schools open 2 hours late, morning CTC classes start 2 hours late and dismiss about 1 hour later than usual. Afternoon sessions start 40 minutes later than usual and dismiss at the regular time.   Early Dismissal    When schools close 2 hours early due to bad weather, morning preK students remain at school for dismissal with full-day students. Lunches are served. Afternoon preK and CTC programs are canceled; CTC students remain at their home schools. Flexible Evening High and Heather Ridge Twilight programs are canceled. See Regulation 400-2 for details.   After-School Activities    Generally, when schools are closed due to inclement weather, school-sponsored after-school and evening activities are cancelled or postponed. Examples: adult education classes, athletic events, play performances.    How FCPS Decides to Cancel, Delay, or Dismiss School Early

How to Find Out FCPS notifies more than 30 local and regional TV and radio stations plus our own media outlets about systemwide school closings. It is not possible to guarantee that the news media will announce this information promptly or accurately. For the fastest, most reliable information, check the ­following: Television: Cable Channel 18 ( Frederick area) Internet: www.fcps.org Email:  Sign up for Find Out First email   Plan Back-up Care For safety reasons, pre-arrange emergency back-up care for your child in the event that schools close unexpectedly. Teach your child what to do in case you are not at home when school closes, and provide the school with the name and number of someone nearby who is usually available when you are not at home. On Non-School Days When the Snow Emergency Plan is in effect in Frederick County on non-school days, all FCPS programs and activities are canceled. Monitor local radio stations for Snow Emergency Plan status or visit the Maryland Department of Transportation website.