With the National Weather Service predicting snow for Thursday – and possibly Wednesday and Friday as well – Albuquerque Public Schools is reminding families that classes will still take place if the weather is bad.

The district replaced snow days with “asynchronous learning days” in 2023-2024, and that policy will continue this school year.

This means that instead of playing in the snow or discovering soap operas, APS students are expected to attend classes at home on days when schools are closed due to bad weather.

APS employees, with the exception of teachers and education paraprofessionals, are expected to report to work as soon as possible, according to a news release from the district. Teachers and teaching assistants may work from home or at their school on those days.

Asynchronous learning days can cause teachers to:

• Create and post assignments that students can complete themselves via Google Classroom or another platform.

• Maintain online office hours to support students with assignments or to provide tutoring.

• Use other instructional practices to ensure students learn.

APS says students who do not have access to digital devices or the internet will be given additional time to complete classroom assignments when they return.

“When bad weather strikes, our top priority will be to ensure students and staff are safe,” district spokesperson Martin Salazar said. “But behind safety is ensuring the continuity of student learning. That’s where asynchronous learning comes into play. It gives students the opportunity to continue their lessons at home at their own pace, with support from their teachers.”

He said the process helps students stay on track academically and avoids having to add days to the calendar at the end of the school year.

APS says asynchronous learning will not be used if weather causes a delayed start.

More information about weather delays is available here.

Some asynchronous learning days are planned without regard to the weather. These include high school testing days, parent/teacher conferences and graduation days.

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