Snow day flexibility makes sense

School scheduling issues can elicit quite strong reactions. There are lots of opinions about when the school year should begin and end, and especially about what should be done when inclement weather is happening or is forecast.

So it’s no surprise that there’s been considerable public reaction to a new state law that gives local administrators the ability to close school buildings without giving up school days.

School districts now are permitted to develop a system for flexible instruction days so they can provide education at home, usually via online lessons, when conditions make traveling to and from school dangerous.

Some critics of this idea have doubts about whether the replacement lessons can truly replace a school day. Others argue that kids should be free to play and have fun when there’s snow on the ground.

These concerns are overblown. This is an idea whose time has come.

Many districts in the area already give out portable computers to every student and have the technological infrastructure in place to develop flexible instruction days quite easily.

Students already routinely collaborate with one another and communicate with teachers using such systems.

The main issue is making sure that students have sufficient internet access and that accommodations can be made for those who don’t. Districts that have a strong online component in place already should have policies in place to deal with such situations.

Clearly this idea won’t work everywhere, so lawmakers were wise to make flexible instruction days optional.

However, it offers a reminder of the state’s need to make sure poorer districts have the funding to keep up with technology advances elsewhere, and that there’s sufficient broadband internet infrastructure in rural areas where it often is lacking.

It was a smart move to test flexible instruction days in a three-year pilot program involving a dozen districts before enacting legislation.

This provided clear evidence that the idea can work and gives administrators across the state a chance to learn from the experiences of colleagues.

Flexible instruction days offer educational and practical benefits.

Frequent, sometimes extended interruptions in the flow of education during the winter can make it more difficult for children to absorb their lessons. Students can get more out of working at home on snow days than by having a school day tacked on to the end of the year.

And a large number of snow days means shortening school vacations and lengthening the school year, sometimes even requiring a rescheduling of graduation.

It would be better for families and school staff alike to make plans without having to worry so much about schedule changes in the middle of the year. Having up to five flexible instruction days doesn’t eliminate that problem, but it should ameliorate it considerably.

As for playing in the snow, a few hours of schoolwork should leave them plenty of time to make great winter memories.

And parents may be grateful to have another productive activity to keep kids occupied while they’re inside.

This is an idea with great potential. All it should take to succeed is a good plan and strong communication and collaboration among administrators, teachers and parents.

In an era when so much education already is taking place online, even at traditional public schools, it just makes sense to take advantage of it when weather or other issues keep children and teachers at home.