Some schools across the country are closing for the solar eclipse in April — here's why

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Why are schools closing for the eclipse?
Some schools, like New York state's Syracuse City School District cite general "safety risks" as a concern. However, staff is expected to report to work on a half-day schedule.

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One Pennsylvania school district was slightly more detailed in their assessment of safety concerns. In a letter to parents, the Pine-Richland School District, just outside of Pittsburgh, explained that because the eclipse is expected to occur during dismissal, "the potential is significant for students to be tempted to view it without proper safety precautions while exiting the school building or while getting off of the school bus."

According to the Carnegie Science Center, the maximum eclipse will occur at 3:17 p.m. in Pittsburgh.

Erie, Pennsylvania schools are also closed, but their public relations coordinator, Erica Erwin, cited a slightly different reason. Because Erie is in the path of totality, the city expects to have a significant number of visitors. "To help mitigate what will likely be unprecedented travel and traffic challenges, that day will be a non-attendance day," Erwin shares. Teachers will have a professional development day.

The path of totality includes parts of Texas. The Ennis Independent School District, located south of Dallas, noted on their website that the city is predicting as many as 200,000 visitors. They also anticipate that "staff members will choose to take off and many parents will elect to not send their children to school on that day in order to share the experience and activities with their families."

As a result, schools will be closed.

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