MARYLAND, USA — Among the many changes of 2020 will be far fewer students wearing pajamas inside out, and also fewer parents waking up early to see if their child's school is on the snow closure list.
Due to the pandemic, many schools in the DMV have moved classes online to keep students and staff safe from the spread of coronavirus.
As a result, the forecast for the region on Wednesday had only a small impact on virtual classes.
"We know that students are in school less than they have been in past years. There’s a great case to be made for keeping those snow days as academic days," said Cynthia Simonson, who has two children in the Montgomery County school system. "There’s no question that snow days bring about a level of morale and as an excitement for the kids.”
Below is a list of information for what school district's in the area are doing ahead of Wednesday's winter weather.
- Montgomery County Public Schools will continue virtual learning for all students unless there are widespread power outages as a result of the upcoming snowstorm, said the school district in a statement. All childcare programs in MCPS buildings may also open on time as scheduled. MCPS said it will monitor weather conditions throughout the day and will provide updated guidance if necessary.
- Arlington Public Schools Director of Communications Frank Bellavia said in-person classes would revert to distance learning for all students in the case of inclement weather. The school district on Tuesday added that it will close all offices and school buildings due to the winter weather. It also said that its meals program will be closed on Wednesday, but will continue back up on Thursday.
- Alexandria City Public Schools will go strictly virtual learning for Wednesday and said food distribution and child care at ACPS buildings will be canceled for the day.
RELATED: Alexandria City Public Schools snow plans, district expects an impact on school food distribution
- With the first serious snowstorm of the season approaching Wednesday, Fairfax County Public Schools will have synchronous virtual learning (teacher-led) on Wednesday.
- Loudoun County Public Schools has canceled school for Wednesday, virtual and in-person, ahead of the expected winter weather storm in the DMV region, according to a statement from the school district.
- Prince William County Schools has canceled all school learning, in-person and digital. It has also closed all offices and school buildings for Wednesday.
- Frederick County Public Schools will go completely virtual for its learning on Wedenasy amid the snow conditions predicted for its community. No in-person small group instruction. Telework encouraged. After school/evening activities are canceled.
- Culpepper County Public Schools has also canceled all school learning, in-person and digital. It has also closed all offices and school buildings for Wednesday.
- Fauquier County Public Schools has canceled classes for Wednesday and Thursday amid a winter story that will impact the community.
- Manassas Park City Schools is closed Wednesday for students and staff. This means no virtual learning, too.
- Manassas City Public Schools is closed on Wednesday for students and staff.
- Jefferson County Public Schools (WV) will be completely closed for tomorrow, Dec.16, in honor of the 1st snow day of the year. Closed for students... closed for virtual... closed for staff
(We will update this story as any news comes in about school plans for Thursday)
Multiple school districts across the region have said power outages could lead to the biggest challenges and result in both in-person and virtual classes being canceled for the day.