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Planning Ahead for Winter Weather: Possible School Schedule Changes

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Planning Ahead for Winter Weather: Possible School Schedule Changes

By Albemarle County Public Schools

Snow-covered roads during winter weather in Albemarle County

Snow-covered roads during winter weather in Albemarle County. (ACPS photo)
 

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. — Weather forecasts are predicting snowfall this weekend, along with low temperatures through the coming week. As a result, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is preparing for the possibility of weather-related closures and is sharing its plan to ensure students receive the required instructional time for the 2025-26 school year.

Each year, ACPS adopts a school calendar that includes 11.5 days of instructional time beyond state requirements to account for weather-related closures and other emergencies. To date, ACPS has used four of those days, leaving 7.5 days of additional instructional time remaining in the academic calendar.

ACPS aims to maintain at least five available instructional days through early February to accommodate potential weather closures through the remainder of winter, while also preserving flexibility in the event of flooding or other emergencies later in the school year. With that goal in mind, ACPS is notifying families, students and staff of its plan to make up instructional days in February and March if schools are closed for more than two days over the next four weeks.

Students are not scheduled to attend school on teacher workdays or professional development days. However, if more than two snow days occur between now and February 13, ACPS will convert specific teacher workdays or professional development days into regular instructional days, with students reporting to school as usual.

If needed, ACPS will follow the amended schedule below:

  • One or two days closed: No change to the school schedule
  • Three days closed: Feb. 17 will change from a professional development day to a regular instructional day
  • Four days closed: Feb. 16 and 17 will change from a teacher workday and professional development day to regular instructional days
  • Five days closed: Feb. 16 and 17, as well as March 19, will change to regular instructional days

“We know that changes to the school calendar can disrupt family routines and plans,” said Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas. “Safety remains our top priority, and this approach allows us to balance that responsibility with our commitment to student learning during winter weather.”

ACPS communicates school closures and schedule updates with families and staff through phone, email and text notifications. Families and community members can also find updates on the ACPS website, the division’s Facebook page, through local media, or by calling 434-296-5886 (434-975-9332 for Spanish). More information about how ACPS makes and communicates inclement weather decisions is available at k12albemarle.org/closings.