Public schools in Carroll County will close two hours early today because of the expected high temperatures, Superintendent R. Edward Shilling said yesterday.

There will be no afternoon kindergarten.

About half of Carroll school buildings have some air conditioning, but all schools will close early.

School officials have said that closing only unair-conditioned schools would create too many complications with bus schedules.

Mr. Shilling said the general rule is to cancel evening extra-curricular events when schools close early, but that each principal will have some discretion. Principals will let students know today about contingency plans for those events, he said.