Inclement Weather
When inclement weather or an emergency occurs, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and working families is our top priority. To the greatest extent possible, the School District of Philadelphia strives to keep schools open for in-person learning to accelerate student achievement.
Inclement Weather Decision Making Process
The Superintendent, or designee, will make the decision regarding school scheduling modifications (closure, delay, early dismissal, cancellation of after school programs, cancellation of after school athletics) pending a recommendation from the Deputy Superintendent of Operations. The Chief Operating Officer makes a recommendation to the Deputy Superintendent of Operations after doing the following within 24-48 hours of an expected weather event:
- On the evening before severe winter weather is forecasted, the Operations Division will activate the Communication and Coordination (C2) Center to collect the information and data necessary to maintain situational awareness of the severe winter weather’s potential impact.
- As a member of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management Services (OEMS) team, receives input from the City of Philadelphia, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service; SEPTA, and any other impacted agencies.
- Coordinates with the Archdiosese of Philadelphia Schools.
- Receives feedback from the Office of School Safety and the Facilities Management teams after they have surveyed road networks in the vicinity of District schools to assess trafficability for school buses, school vans, and automobiles, as well as assessing the serviceability of walkways and sidewalks on school grounds.
- Confers with the SDP Emergency Response Team (Deputy Superintendent for Academics; Chief of Staff; Chief of Communications, and Chief of School Safety) to finalize the school opening, delay or closure recommendation to share with the Superintendent.
Weather/Emergency Communication Timelines and Protocols
Day in Advance Notification Timeline
By Noon – Issue a message to alert District administrators to remind students to take home their Chromebooks and medications from the nurse’s office.
By 3:00PM – A conference call with the SDP Emergency Response Team to finalize the school opening, delay or closure recommendation to share with the Superintendent.
By 5:00PM – Superintendent finalizes school opening, delay, or closure decision.
By 7:00PM – Update SDP Board President and Mayor’s Chief of Staff
By 8:00PM – Superintendent confirms final school opening, delay, or closure decision.
By 9:00PM – Launch communications cascade to issue a message and announce the decision for school opening, delay or closure (email, text, district website, and media outreach)
Day of Notification Timeline
By Noon day before – Issue a message to alert District administrators to remind students to take home their Chromebooks and medications from the nurse’s office.
By 3:45AM – A conference call with the SDP Emergency Response Team to finalize the school opening, delay or closure recommendation to share with the Superintendent.
By 4:00AM – Superintendent finalizes school opening, delay, or closure decision.
By 4:15AM – Update SDP Board President and Mayor’s Chief of Staff
By 4:30AM – Superintendent confirms final school opening, delay, or closure decision.
By 4:45AM – Launch communications cascade to issue a message and announce the decision for school opening, delay or closure (email, text, district website, and media outreach)
Transportation Services
- If the District is closed, transportation will not be provided by the District or its vendors.
- If there is a delay or early dismissal, transportation services to and from all schools will be provided based on the modification in the District’s schedule and priorities.
