Most school districts have received waivers from the state to reduce the number of days students have to make up because of snow in December and February. State schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick has waived five days for 12 of the state's 24 school districts, including Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Kent, St. Mary's, Prince George's and Montgomery counties. Baltimore County recently requested that the state allow the county to reduce its calendar by one school day, which would make the last day of school June 18. Grasmick has not acted on the request. Howard County received the exception for one day. Six other school districts have gotten waivers for three or four days, including a three-day waiver for Carroll. Maryland law requires students to attend school for 180 days a year, but Grasmick has occasionally waived the law when students have stayed home for long periods because of snowstorms, ice storms and hurricanes. Students in 11 schools in Baltimore County also lost time recently because of a water main break.

- Liz Bowie