“Cyber Snow Days” Could Keep Classes on Schedule

Idea is just a dream, for now.

NewsWorks reports on the possibility of Pennsylvania educators implementing “cyber snow days” to keep education rolling when the snow makes travel impossible:

Following this winter’s rash of snow-related school closings, Sen. Elder A. Vogel, R-Beaver, pitched this idea to state Education Secretary Carolyn Dumaresq at a recent education budget hearing:

“I have a private Catholic school in my district who’s gone to a virtual school day. Basically, when it snows, they literally make all the kids go online, the teachers go online and you get your class instructions for the day,” said Vogel. “Any thought to trying to do this on a larger scale statewide?”

“Yeah, I think folks call that ‘cyber-snow days,'” Dumaresq said.

The big obstacle: At-home broadband access isn’t as widespread as it needs to be to ensure all students would be able to continue classes, officials say.