Baltimore Schools Order Early Dismissals Monday Ahead of Severe Storm Threat

Forecasters' warnings of damaging winds and possible tornadoes sent Baltimore-area school administrators scrambling last Monday, with Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Cecil, and Howard County school systems all ordering early dismissals before a line of severe storms was expected to move through the region in the afternoon hours of March 16.

Baltimore City Public Schools cited direct concerns from the Governor's Office and the Mayor's Office in its decision to release students two hours early. Central Office staff were permitted to complete the final two hours of their workday remotely, an unusual accommodation that reflected the seriousness of the forecast.

Baltimore County Public Schools went further, closing all schools and offices three hours early. The district also canceled afternoon prekindergarten classes and all afterschool and evening activities, advising families to monitor conditions as the storm moved through.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools matched Baltimore City's two-hour early release, citing "the forecast for severe and dangerous weather, including potential tornadoes in the afternoon." The district scrapped afternoon half-day ECSE programs, afternoon CAT Center programs, JROTC, and every school field trip scheduled for the day.

Howard County Public Schools also pulled students out three hours early, pointing specifically to "forecasted severe weather with damaging winds and possibility of tornadoes." Howard County directed families to the dismissal method they had already designated in Family File, the district's unscheduled early closing protocol.

Cecil County took the most aggressive timeline, sending secondary students home at 11:00 AM and elementary students at noon. Pre-K3 was canceled for the afternoon, all after-school activities were scrubbed, and cancellations extended to magnet extended day programs, extracurricular activities, and Evening High School classes. Students were bused home via normal routes, with departure times adjusted two hours earlier than standard.

Private institutions and childcare centers across the region followed the public schools' lead. Catholic High School of Baltimore closed at 11:35 AM with all afternoon activities canceled. Loyola Blakefield shut down at 1:25 PM, also canceling afternoon activities. Maryland School for the Deaf closed at noon. KidzStuff Child Care Center closed at 1:00 PM at both its Broadway and Alameda locations. Churchville Presbyterian Preschool and Daycare also closed at 1:00 PM, while GLA Academy and God's Little Angels Academy closed for the full day.

For families whose children participate in programs operated by outside agencies, Anne Arundel County Public Schools advised checking directly with those organizations, as district closures did not automatically extend to independently run programs sharing school facilities.