Why NYC Schools Didn't Move To Remote Learning

NEW YORK, NY — New York City public schools reopened this week after a midwinter snowstorm, but Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to continue supporting vulnerable populations as Code Blue remains in effect through Wednesday morning.

City schools were not positioned to facilitate remote instruction during the storm, Mamdani said, citing limitations in ensuring students had the devices necessary for effective online learning.

“Public schools hold a purpose beyond providing a designated place for kids to learn,” he said. “They are critical to the health and wellness of nearly 900,000 children across our city, whether through warm meals, essential mental health support, or child care for working parents. When conditions are safe, our goal will always be to open schools.”

The mayor also commended the work of more than 8,000 Department of Education staff who worked through the weekend to clear entrances and maintain warmth in school buildings, ensuring they were accessible and safe for students’ return.

“Though the storm may be over, that does not mean the danger to vulnerable New Yorkers has passed,” Mamdani said. “Shelters will continue to operate. No one will be turned away. Outreach workers will continue canvassing across all five boroughs to bring unhoused residents to safety.”