On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. While no place in Massachusetts will see the sun completely disappear, some parts of the state will see a shadow cover 95 percent of the sun, if weather permits. The eclipse will begin shortly after 2 p.m. and will last about two and a half hours until about 4:30 p.m.

The MA DESE recognizes that the eclipse may overlap with dismissal for many Massachusetts schools and recommends preparing students to safely experience the eclipse. This means instructing and reminding students not to look directly at the eclipse without proper eye protection. While the eclipse begins shortly after 2pm, the peak of the eclipse will not be until 3:30 pm.