TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Winter has shown up with a gusto in parts of Michigan the past week, particularly in the Upper Peninsula and lower northern Michigan, due to lake- effect snow and a clipper system. Along with the snow, it’s delivering a flurry of school snow days.

Snowfall amounts can vary even within the same city, but across the frozen northern stretches of the state, reports – whether from the media or shivering residents measuring the drifts on their decks show accumulations ranging anywhere from one to five feet over the past week with cities like Gaylord recording record-levels of snowfall and persistently showing up on the cable weather networks.

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Since the snow started on Thanksgiving, Michiganders have heard the following words and phrases concerning their frosty conditions: Arctic cold front, hazardous commutes, snow squalls, thundersnow, white-out conditions, warning, record-breaking, and historic. Not exactly words you want to hear if you are trying to get around town to go to your job or if you are trying to send your kids off to school.

A frosty start to winter.

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) has already racked up more snow days this season than it did throughout all of last winter. Since Thanksgiving break, students have hardly been in class. They missed Monday and Tuesday after the holiday due to the weather, had an early release on Wednesday, and are out again today due to “inclement” weather.

As snowflakes continue to pile up, so do questions about how many snow days Michigan schools can log before hitting their limits.

The state’s snow day rulebook.

Michigan schools are allotted six “forgiven” snow days per academic year, covering closures for snow, ice, and other wintery wallops. Those days can also cover events beyond the control of school officials that lead to class cancellations, such as other severe weather, fires, health emergencies, or infrastructure problems.

If schools exhaust this six-day allocation, districts can request a waiver from the Michigan Department of Education for up to three additional days.

Beyond that, schools have to shovel their way back to meeting the state-mandated 180 instructional days and 1,098 hours by tacking on extra days to the calendar.

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While recent winters have been less extreme, the erratic nature of Michigan weather keeps educators on their toes. It’s a delicate balancing act for administrators trying to ensure safety without overshooting their forgiven days and risking summer break extensions.

A Traverse City snow day blizzard.

In Traverse City, where annual snowfall averages around 100 inches, the snow day situation is predictably more intense. And with the 2024-25 winter only starting, it looks like students might be enjoying more cocoa-fueled mornings than anyone anticipated over the next few months.

Meanwhile, other northern Michigan districts are facing similar challenges, especially as icy roads and blowing snow make rural bus routes treacherous.

Snowstorm solutions: waivers and makeup days.

If this winter keeps flexing its frosty muscles, districts may be forced to request those elusive waivers or roll up their sleeves and add makeup days in June. Historically, waivers are granted sparingly, and the Michigan Department of Education encourages districts to consider creative solutions like remote learning on snow days – though implementing that isn’t always a walk in the (snow-covered) park.

Winter’s wildcard: what’s ahead?

As December continues and winter kicks into high gear, there’s no reason to think that the snowy forecast for Michigan will slow down. For students, that might mean more sleeping in, snowball fights and sledding adventures. For educators and parents, it’s a question of whether the snow day tally will stick or start sliding into overtime.

One thing’s for sure: in Michigan, the phrase “Let it snow” comes with a healthy dose of both excitement and logistical headaches. Winter has barely begun, and already, schools across the state are having to brace for whatever Mother Nature decides to toss their way next.