Dear School District of Philadelphia Families,

As we experience the first snowfall of the year, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families is our top priority. To the greatest extent possible, the School District of Philadelphia strives to keep schools open for in-person learning to accelerate student achievement.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning which is in effect from 1 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025. The Warning currently calls for heavy snow, with possible accumulations of 3 to 6 inches for the Philadelphia region. Based on this forecast from the National Weather Service, out of an abundance of caution all School District of Philadelphia schools (including the District’s Early Childhood Centers) and the Constance E. Clayton Education Center (Central Office) will be closed tomorrow. All after-school activities including all athletic programs and professional development sessions scheduled for Monday are canceled as well.

This year, the District allotted one extra day in the school year calendar beyond the 180 required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which we will use as a snow day. Going forward, any school closures related to inclement weather will be remote learning days.

As a father of three, I understand the importance of children having fun and experiencing joy, which is one of our Accelerate Philly core values. Snow days offer special moments for our students to experience the joy and wonder of winter. We encourage families to embrace this opportunity to build memories together, while exercising appropriate caution during winter weather conditions.

In accordance with the District’s Inclement Weather Protocol, we are closely monitoring weather conditions across our region. We anticipate resuming normal operations on Tuesday, January 7. Should there be any changes to this schedule, we will communicate through our standard channels.

Wishing all our young people a safe and fun day!

In partnership,

 

Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia