New York City schools went online instead of calling a snow day. It didn't go well

Source: Associated Press

New York City schools went online instead of calling a snow day. It didn’t go well

BY PHILIP MARCELO AND ANNIE MA
Updated 5:47 PM EST, February 13, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) — When New York City officials got wind of the major winter storm headed their way, they rewound the clock four years, reopened their coronavirus pandemic playbook, and announced that instead of canceling school, teachers and students would once again meet online. No snow day.

Mayor Eric Adams said it was important to give children enrolled in the nation’s largest school system stability considering the massive upheaval to education the pandemic had caused throughout the country. Some school districts in other states have done the same since adopting the technology essential in 2020 to make virtual school days possible.

Unfortunately for Adams, the plan didn’t go so well: Many students, teachers and administrators were unable to log in to their accounts — a problem that city officials blamed on a technology contractor.

Naveed Hasan, a Manhattan resident, said he struggled to get his 4-year-old daughter logged on because of the district’s technical issues even though his 9-year-old son was able to gain access. He hoped to take both out for sledding later in the day.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/school-snow-day-remote-learning-2ef89fedcd4caefc3d6b6c483188e888