New York City’s public schools will be closed Monday due to the weekend’s snowstorm, and students will join classes remotely, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced.
While students in high schools and 6-12 schools were already scheduled to be off for a teacher professional development day, most elementary and middle schools will switch to remote learning. The Mamdani administration said that will affect approximately 500,000 students across more than 1,100 schools.
In New Jersey, where nearly a foot of snow fell in some communities, dozens of school districts called “snow days” for Monday. In the New York City, most areas received a bit more than a half-foot of snow. Warming temperatures ushered in a mix of sleet and freezing rain Sunday evening.
“As snowfall begins to blanket our city and conditions become hazardous, closing school buildings is a necessary step to keep New Yorkers safe,” Mamdani said in a statement earlier on Sunday. “Over the past week, my administration has prepared for this moment – ensuring devices are in hand, families are informed and educators are ready to welcome students online. Our school system, and our city, is prepared to weather this storm together.”
The Mamdani administration also announced that all after-school, adult education and school-based programs would also be canceled Monday.
Principals were instructed last week to send students home with their devices in case they had to log on remotely. Mamdani and Samuels said the education department has held “simulations and stress tests” to ensure students will be able to log on for remote learning, after parents faced difficulty getting online during a snow storm two years ago.
Some parents and children have lamented the decision to have virtual learning rather than a day off during the snowstorm, but officials acknowledged that a tight calendar has contributed to the decision. The state requires 180 instructional days per year. Samuels assured kids on Friday that they would still have time to play in the snow.
"I know that this may disappoint some students. So, if you do see me, feel free to throw a snowball at me," Mamdani told reporters on Sunday.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
Jessica Gould contributed reporting.
