Across America, schools are seeing a spike in search interest around school closure updates as winter conditions continue to impede families' ability to plan their daily activities. Families searching for information about how winter weather affects their school (for example, "schools closed," "school closures today," "Cincinnati school closures," JCPS school closures) are working to ensure they receive accurate and timely information regarding the safety of their students before making any decisions on how to proceed with their day.
To assist families and districts better serve them, many districts are altering the way they handle school schedules due to adverse weather conditions (e.g., heavy snowfall, icy roads, extremely cold temperatures). CPS has closed all students, citing safety issues as the primary factor in their decision-making. The district felt there was significant concern for the safety of children who walk or take the bus to school during inclement weather. Similarly, JCPS families are actively monitoring curriculum updates provided by the district on multiple channels to provide timely and accurate information about closures if weather conditions make transportation unsafe.
National Statistical Reports and Trends.
The 2025 Winter Weather Event has presented many challenges for students attending school across the nation, specifically in Northern regions such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and several other Northern states have issued the maximum number of school closures during adverse winter conditions (because of snow, ice or severe cold). For example, Des Moines, Iowa, recorded as much as ten inches of snow> which resulted in numerous school cancels and delayed starts; similar patterns are also seen during times of heavy snowfalls and icy weather conditions for States such as Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut.
How School Districts Communicate Closures/delays to Parents
Most school districts provide information about school closures and other important announcements through various methods, including their respective official web pages, automated phone messages sent directly to parents, text messages sent via cell phones, and app notifications sent directly to parents using mobile applications. Many times local newspapers and radio/television stations also report current information about a school district's closure, and all parents should regularly check their respective School District calendars, along with some other trusted news source(s), for the most up-to-date and reliable information to ensure clarity and consistency with their understanding of what is happening in their particular district.
The Impact of Unstable Winter Weather on School Closures
Severe winter weather conditions, including temperature drops, icy roadways, lack of visibility, etc., often render it unsafe for students to attend school, particularly in rural and suburban areas that have limited infrastructure. Because of these issues, school officials must first evaluate student safety by gathering information regarding road conditions, bus routes, and general weather conditions prior to making final decisions on whether to close schools.
Continued Interest in School Closure Information
With many areas experiencing some degree of winter weather instability for the foreseeable future, there will continue to be an increased level of interest from families regarding school closure information as they prepare for last-minute schedule changes. Families should continue to monitor their district's official channels for the most accurate and timely updates as we move through winter and into spring.
