If you’ve found yourself asking questions like, “Do they have any snow days left?” or, “How many snow days do we get,” and an important one, “Do they make up snow days?” you’re not alone. With winter weather forcing closures across the Greater Lansing area, questions about limits, e-learning, and calendar changes are popping up everywhere.

First, some of the most FAQs we have been hearing.

Quick Michigan Snow Days FAQ

Can the school year really be extended?
Yes, if forgiven days are used up and no waiver is approved.

Do snow days affect spring break?
They can, depending on how a district chooses to make up time but not sure we can recall this happening in the area. 

Why does e-learning count in some districts but not others?
It must be pre-approved and properly implemented to count as instructional time

GLAMoms had a quick opportunity to learn more about snow day decision making from an area superintendent.

Chris Hodges from Bath Community Schools shared, “We value instructional time and understand the impact that school closures can have on families. Our goal is always to keep schools open whenever it is safe to do so. Decisions to close are never made lightly and are based on careful evaluation of conditions across the district, with the safety of our students, staff, and families guiding every decision.”

How Many Are Allowed, What Counts, and What Happens Next

If you live in Michigan, you already know winter doesn’t ask permission. Snow, ice, wind chills, and white-out conditions can turn a normal school morning into a “check your email every 30 seconds” situation.

And every winter, the same question pops up in parent group chats across the state:

“Do they have any snow days left?”

Here’s what Michigan families need to know about the state’s snow day law, how many days are allowed, and what happens when districts run out.

Why Snow Days Still Matter in Michigan

School closures aren’t just about convenience or a day off, they’re about safety. Districts have to consider road conditions, buses, staffing, and student safety before opening buildings.

At the same time, Michigan schools are required to meet specific instructional requirements set by the state. That means snow days are tracked carefully, and once they’re gone, districts have decisions to make.

Michigan’s Snow Day Law – summed up

Michigan schools must meet state instructional requirements, which can be fulfilled in one of two ways:

180 instructional days, or 1,098 instructional hours for K–12 students

Because winter weather is unavoidable here, the state allows a limited number of school closure days that do not need to be made up.

These are often referred to as “forgiven days” on michigan.gov.

How Many Snow Days Are Allowed?

Michigan allows up to 6 forgiven days per school year. These days:

• Do not need to be added back to the calendar

• Do not extend the school year

• Are typically used for snow, ice, extreme cold, or other emergencies

Once a district uses all six, any additional closures usually require a plan. 

What Counts as a Snow Day?

Snow days generally include:

• Weather-related closures (snow, ice, extreme cold)

• Emergency closures (power outages, unsafe conditions or other closures with less than 24 hours notice)

Delays usually do not count as snow days, since students still attend school for instructional time.

Each district tracks closures and communicates when they’re getting close to the limit.

What About E-Learning or Virtual Days?

Many Michigan districts now use e-learning days as an alternative to traditional snow days.

When approved:

• They count as instructional time

• They do not use up a forgiven snow day

This is why families may see very different approaches from one district to another – it depends on lots of things including board approval, technology access, and grade levels.

What Happens After All 6 Snow Days Are Used?

Once a district runs out of forgiven days, they usually have a few options:

Switch to E-Learning Days – If the district already has e-learning plans approved, closures may move online instead of canceling school entirely.

Add Make-Up Days –

This can mean:

• Extending the school year

• Using scheduled breaks or professional development days

Request a State Waiver – Districts can apply to the Michigan Department of Education for forgiveness of additional days. Approval is not guaranteed and often depends on circumstances. The last time a large scale, multi-county waiver was during the 2024-25 school year. 

Why Neighboring Districts Handle Snow Days Differently

If you’ve ever wondered why one district closes while another stays open, it often comes down to:

• Local school administration and school board decisions

• Transportation routes and rural roads

• Technology readiness

• Student age levels

• Safety assessments made early in the morning

What Parents Should Watch For

As winter continues, keep an eye on:

• Newsletters or items tucked in school folders, emails or robocalls mentioning forgiven days or instructional hours

• Mid-winter calendar updates

• Board of Education (BOE) meeting agendas following multiple closures. OR plan to attend meetings and hear the plan first hand.

These are often early signals that changes could be coming.

The takeaway for Greater Lansing area families

Snow days aren’t “free days off” anymore, they’re carefully counted and managed. Districts are balancing safety, state requirements, and the impact on families as winter plays out.

When in doubt, your district’s calendar and communications are always the best source of truth.

Stay warm, stay safe  and keep those snow boots by the door. ❄️

Information provided in this blog was found on the State of Michigan website, Pupil Accounting Information, including Waivers and Program Guidance. For more detailed information visit: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/financial-management/state-aid/related-info/pupil-accounting-informationI

If the district your child attends goes over 6 snow days, GLAMoms would be interested to hear plans for your school district. Please share HERE.

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Also from michigan.gov, for the 2024–2025 Michigan school year, the most recent large-scale snow day waiver situation happened after a historic ice storm in late March 2025, when schools in parts of Northern Michigan were forced to miss many days of instruction and risked having to extend the school year. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4345 into law in early June 2025, allowing districts in affected areas to waive up to 15 missed instructional days without having to make them up later.