Missed School Days Update (as of 1/28)

This message was shared with families on 1/28/26:

Dear Newark City Schools Staff and Families,

We know that it has been a long winter already, and we hope that you’ve been staying safe and warm during this latest stretch of snowy weather and frigid temperatures. We want to provide you with clarity regarding the days we have missed so far this school year.

Today is our sixth weather-related closure. In previous years, Ohio required districts to make up days missed beyond five. The state has since moved away from counting days and now measures instructional time in hours.

The chart below outlines the state minimum hours and the total number of instructional hours built into the district calendar. Our calendar is designed to exceed these minimums, which means we are not required to make up all missed hours. At the same time, we recognize the importance for students to be in school — safe, warm, fed, and learning.

As the year continues, the district will evaluate whether additional instructional time is needed due to significant loss of learning. If that becomes necessary, we will consider options that best support students, which may include blizzard bags, remote learning, or make-up hours. If our total instructional time falls below the state minimum, we would be required by the state to make up that time. Currently, no additional instructional time has been scheduled.

We will continue to monitor weather conditions and will communicate promptly about any future closures. ParentSquare is our primary communication tool and sends a text, app notification, email, and phone call for cancellations. We also share updates quickly on social media and with local TV and radio stations.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this winter weather. As always, our priority is to keep our students safe.

Thank You,

David Lewis

Superintendent