No More Snow Days In PA: Governor Signs Flexible Instruction Law

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday signed a bill that allows school districts to do away with traditional snow days, instead opting for at-home learning through "cyber snow days."

The law, known as Senate Bill 440, gives school districts the option of using up to five flexible instructional days per year. The bill's sponsor was Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York).

Flexible instructional days could be used when schools are closed due to various circumstances, include weather, building or infrastructure problems, or threats made to the school and its students.

“School districts need the added flexibility of ensuring their students’ continuity of education is not interrupted by the weather or any other unplanned school closure,” Phillips-Hill said in a statement. She noted a pilot program testing the option drew "overwhelmingly positive reviews from participating school districts."

Senate Bill 440 will codify the pilot program into the state law providing this option to all schools, both public and private. Technology or other means would allow students to work from home during the closure.

"Based on the responses from the districts that were enrolled in the program, there is no doubt that this option should be made available to each and every school district" in Pennsylvania, said Phillips-Hill.

Schools have to apply to utilize the program. Schools that are eligible to apply for the program include public school districts, intermediate units, vocational-technical schools, charter schools and parochial schools, the bill sponsor explained.

Approved applications would be valid for three years, when the school would need to reapply.