Poor air quality caused by wildfires in Canada has prompted the school districts of two of the nation’s largest cities to move to remote instruction, at least for one day.
New York City Public Schools and the School District of Philadelphia announced that Friday would be a remote class day for students, as the column of smoke from wildfires in Canada has continued to cause poor air quality throughout the northeast of the United States.
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Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington, in a letter to the community, said that the one-day move to remote instruction was a decision that was made “out of an abundance of caution for the health of students.”
“The health and well-being of students and staff is a top priority,” Watlington said. “District nurses have been available to respond to any air quality-related health concerns. And as of today, all schools have had a nurse assess the impact of the air quality on student health.”
In New York, Friday was a scheduled “clerical day” for most non-high school students, meaning most students in the nation’s largest school district had the day off.
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The district announced that “all New York City Public School students and staff will pivot to remote learning and work” for Friday, including district staff.
The poor air quality has prompted a number of school districts up and down the east coast to cancel outdoor activities due to health concerns. The air quality is forecast to improve over the weekend.
