File: EBCE - School Closings and Cancellations

NOTE: While Colorado school districts are not required by law to adopt a policy on this subject, some content in this sample reflects legal requirements school districts must follow. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the district should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.

The superintendent is empowered to close the schools or to dismiss them early in event of hazardous weather or other emergencies which threaten the safety, health, or welfare of students or staff members. It is understood that the superintendent will take such action only after consultation with appropriate authorities.

Parents, students, and staff members must be informed early in each school year as to how they will be notified in the event of emergency closings or early dismissals.

All staff members, except for teachers and personnel who work only on teacher work days or on student days, unless otherwise notified must be required to report to work as soon as possible on emergency days.

NOTE: The following language, borrowed from Cañon City Schools Fremont RE-1 policy EBCE, School Closings, Delays, Cancellations, and E-Learning Days, is optional and may be used or revised by the district to address emergency closures due to an outbreak of COVID-19 or other emergencies.

In the event school is physically closed due to a public health emergency, all staff with direct student contact or associated with student attendance will not physically report to work unless notified otherwise. Instead, the district will utilize a form of remote instruction. Remote instruction allows students to access lessons provided by, and supported by, their regular teachers and allows students to continue their sequence of learning despite their inability to access facilities.

To ensure all students have the ability to access their lessons via remote instruction, the district will [insert provisions, such as maintaining a supply of internet hotspots, providing hardware and/or software, providing take-home materials/assignments, etc.].

During days of remote instruction, teachers will take attendance and monitor student participation through [system or method of taking attendance]. For situations that are out of the control of the student, days of remote instruction will be treated with the same exceptions as an excused absence in regard to work assigned.

The superintendent or their designee will develop administrative regulations or a plan for implementing this policy.

(Adoption date)

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-1-112 (school year and national holidays)

C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(n) (Board´s duty to determine number of instructional/ contact hours/days)

C.R.S. 22-33-101 et seq. (school attendance law)

1 CCR 301-39, Rules 2254-R-2.06 (Board may reduce teacher-pupil instructional/contact time; closings deemed by Board necessary for health, safety or welfare of pupils)

CROSS REFS.: IC/ICA, School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time

JLIB, Student Dismissal Precautions

[Revised July 2020]