The BCPS Inclement Weather FAQ
Which schools are affected when non-air conditioned schools close due to heat?
The list of schools currently without air conditioning can be found here. For more information regarding heat related closures, please review policy and rule 6303.
What is the Hereford Zone?
The Hereford Zone is in the northern part of the county. Click here for a list of schools that are in this zone.
How does BCPS decide whether to close or delay the opening of schools for
inclement weather?
Keeping children and staff safe is
the main factor in any decision to close or delay the opening of schools.
Information about the weather is gathered
and considered from many sources before a decision is made:
Why does BCPS close schools or delay opening schools for inclement weather?
To provide a quality education for every
student, BCPS supports every opportunity to ensure that students are in class
and learning; however, when weather conditions or forecasted conditions
threaten the safety of children and staff, we must make decisions to curtail
class time to ensure the those we teach are able to get to school safely or
return home without incident.
What happens when a decision is made to close or delay schools?
When the Superintendent of Baltimore County
Public Schools decides to close or delay school openings because of inclement
weather, the decision is made with great care and deliberation. Many aspects of
school operations are affected – bus and staff schedules must be altered;
parents must be notified; and the media must be informed. Timing is crucial, as
BCPS is a large school system with 110,000 students. If schools are
to close for the day, an announcement will be made by 5:30 a.m. If schools are
to close early, or if afternoon or evening programs are to be cancelled, the
decision will be made as much in advance as possible.
Once the decision is made, it is
communicated within minutes to the media, to the BCPS web site, and to the
Education Channel (cable channel 73), the BCPS school status information phone
line, and to parents and the community. Safeguards are provided to ensure that
the information is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable.
What other factors are at work when inclement weather threatens?
BCPS is a large system. Each day, nearly
800 school buses transport more than 70,000 students to and from school over
thousands of miles of county roads. The decision to close schools because of
weather is almost always for the entire BCPS system. Weather, unlike a power
outage or water main break, is not confined to a single area and can spread to
different parts of the county. Therefore, the most severe weather conditions
within the county are used as the basis for the decision-making criteria. A
uniform procedure to close all schools is maintained so that the school system
may respond quickly to emergency weather conditions and protect the safety and
well being of students and staff. Also, decisions to close or delay schools are
often influenced by factors such as school or bus lot accessibility. Most main
roads may be clear, for instance, but parking lots and sidewalks at many of the
county’s schools may still be snow-covered. Or schools may be closed
early before a storm to enable the system’s buses to get all children
home safely before conditions are expected to become hazardous. All factors
involved in making the decision to close schools, delay the opening of schools,
or end the school day early are in the best interest of students and are
intended to keep children out of harm’s way.
Where can I find information about BCPS school closings or delays?
There are several places to find out
information: