Fulton Schools To Delay Release For Solar Eclipse

In response to the solar eclipse that will impact the metro Atlanta area, the Fulton County School System said it will delay releasing elementary school students by 45 minutes on Monday, Aug. 21. The normal release time for Fulton elementary students is 2:20 p.m.

While Atlanta will not experience a total eclipse, the event will be significant, and the darkest part of the eclipse is scheduled to occur during the dismissal process of elementary school students, the system said. The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), as well as several public health organizations, have published safety precautions related to the solar eclipse, and the "delay will provide greater opportunity for oversight of students during the peak of the solar event," it notes.

Also, schools may use the event as a learning opportunity. Prior to the eclipse, students, parents and staff will receive information offering guidance from their local school related to the safety precautions during the eclipse.

Middle and high school buses also will experience delays due to the delay in elementary dismissal. Middle and high school walkers, car riders, and drivers will dismiss according to their normal schedules.

The last coast-to-coast solar eclipse in the U.S. occurred in 1918. Community solar eclipse resources include:

• An interactive eclipse map that allows to select your location and see the calculated eclipse times and duration of annularity for that location.
• The American Astronomical Society has created How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse and has posted eclipse glasses and social viewer information.
• NASA will post a 4-hour, 30-minute live webcast of the total solar eclipse.
• For more information and resources visit the NASA site on the eclipse.
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