New York City Schools Set to Reopen After Historic Snow Day
Return to In-Person Learning
Public schools in New York City are scheduled to resume in-person classes on Tuesday, February 24, following a significant snowstorm that impacted the area. Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that students will return to their classrooms after a day off on Monday, which he referred to as the city’s first traditional snow day since 2019. The decision to cancel classes entirely on Monday, without any remote learning options, was made as a powerful nor’easter struck the city.
This reopening marks a return to the conventional snow day practice, which had been suspended when the city transitioned to a remote learning model at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year. This model was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while it initially faced some technical challenges, its functionality has improved significantly.
Mamdani explained that the cancellation on Monday was due to 'extenuating circumstances,' emphasizing that it was the first day back after the midwinter break and many students and teachers were not equipped with their technology for what would have been a remote learning day. 'We didn’t believe it would actually be productive or conducive or something that would be helpful for our students,' he stated during an interview. He also mentioned that the city received a state waiver, which means students will not need to make up the missed day later in the year.
New York City has been careful about canceling classes due to a state mandate requiring 180 school days each year. With additional holidays included in the academic calendar, there is limited flexibility for closing schools on mandated instructional days.
Impact of the Snowstorm
The recent bomb cyclone resulted in heavy snowfall across the Northeast, with rates reaching 2 to 3 inches per hour early Monday from New York to Massachusetts. Some regions reported accumulations exceeding a foot of snow since Sunday, along with wind gusts surpassing 30 mph and reduced visibility.
Travel disruptions were extensive, with over 5,600 flights canceled in or out of the United States by around 12:30 PM ET on Monday, according to FlightAware, and many more flights were delayed.