Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Dear Avon Lake City Schools Community,
Student and staff safety will always be a priority when the Avon Lake City Schools makes decisions to close school during periods of inclement weather, such as the one in which much of Northeast Ohio currently finds itself. I wanted to take this opportunity, however, to write to you about a few important reminders from the State of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The state no longer uses the metric of 'calamity days,' but rather monitors education based on an hour-based system throughout a given school year. The State of Ohio requires a minimum of:
- 455 hours of instruction for students in half day kindergarten
- 910 hours of instruction for students in grades K through 6
- 1,001 hours of instruction for students in grades 7 through 12
Accordingly, the ALCS has built in a cushion to avoid falling below these minimum hours (even with the current number of hours used), to cover for days away for inclement weather throughout the school year. This gives district leaders the latitude to make decisions based upon student and staff safety, rather than making up time.
Please continue to stay posted as ALCS leaders closely monitor conditions and collaborate with districts throughout the region to keep everyone safe and warm.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.
