snow days

More schools are turning to remote learning during inclement weather, making some wonder is snow days are going extinct. We take a closer look at the decisions schools have to make when it snows, and whether there are potential benefits to snow days.

Even snow days are feeling the impact of the coronavirus as some communities opt to have their students continue remote learning on what would be a fun day outside.

In years past, a storm like Thursday’s Nor’easter meant an automatic snow day for students across Massachusetts. But with many students already remote learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, that precious childhood moment has been stolen away. Hundreds of Massachusetts schools opted to go remote Thursday due to the storm, according to the NBC10 Boston and NECN school closing...

Crews are gearing up for the incoming storm while school districts consider switching to remote learning in place of traditional snow days.

Some school districts in Massachusetts are ditching traditional snow days this year, opting instead for online classes whenever possible. The interim superintendent of Brookline Public Schools, Dr. James Marini, said students will be expected to switch to remote learning on what would normally be a snow day in a message to parents. Other school districts across the region plan to…

Glastonbury Public Schools announced it is planning on implementing remote learning because of bad weather instead of taking a traditional “snow day” this winter. The change comes as a bit of a disappointment to many students. “I really like the snow days and get the chance to have the day off and play outside,” said Colin Nold, a fifth grader…

Some educators are already wondering if remote learning could mean the end of snow days, the unexpected days off when weather conditions make it too hard for staff and children to reach school. Bryan Olkowski, the superintendent of the Washington Central Supervisory Union in Vermont, recently floated the idea at a school board meeting. He said he brought it up…

“The goal is not to open schools, the goal is to keep them open,” former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, adding that “Massachusetts has done a relatively good job.”