Albany, N.Y. -- Flushing ice cubes down the toilet and wearing pajamas inside-out may not be much help this year for kids hoping to get a snow day. New York has told districts that they can use virtual learning in place of snow days for the coming school year.
The state "is establishing a one-year pilot to enable school districts . . . to pivot to remote instruction to provide continuity of instruction on what would otherwise be a day of school closure due to a snow emergency,” the education department wrote in a memo sent Tuesday to all school districts across the state.
The state is allowing districts to pivot to virtual learning when the snow piles up as part of its ongoing effort to give school districts more flexibility during the coronavirus pandemic.
The snow day pilot program will be reevaluated at the end of this year.
Each district can decide whether to use a snow day or have everyone in the district learn virtually, according to the memo.
Marnie Eisenstadt is a reporter who writes about people and public affairs in Central New York. Have an idea or question? Contact her anytime: email | Twitter| Facebook | 315-470-2246