While our student calendar was built with a buffer to handle emergency closings, this winter brought more snow and ice than anticipated. Here is information about snow days and instructional time for schools:
March 21 and May 29 will now be full school days for students instead of early dismissal days.
Because schools opened on a 2-hour delay on Friday, Feb. 21: We will apply for a waiver from VDOE so we do not have to make additional changes to the calendar. If the waiver is not approved, May 30 (the day currently scheduled as the last day of school) will be made a full school day. On the current calendar, that day is scheduled to be an early dismissal day.
If further days are missed: Additional days will be added to the school calendar and/or additional minutes will be added to the school day schedule as needed if a waiver is not approved by VDOE.
School systems across Virginia set their own calendars and make decisions about emergency closings based on the conditions within their locality.
Some have asked why CCPS has not incorporated asynchronous learning on days that we are closed for snow. As the Virginia Department of Education recently reminded school divisions, several VDOE requirements must be met to use asynchronous days. Those requirements, in part, include necessary utilities, such as power and internet, and meal services for students.
Additionally, when schools are closed during a state of emergency, the state of emergency offers support for a waiver request but it does not automatically mean that the time missed does not have to be made up.