School Delays & Cancellations

Inclement weather can sometimes impact the operation of our schools, particularly in the wintertime. When that happens, the district follows distinct procedures and schedules, as outlined below.

Please read these procedures carefully and refer to the guidelines below for more details for both in-person and remote students.

The District makes decisions regarding closures and delays in consultation with the municipality's Public Works Department, Police Department, and others. As a parent, if you choose not to follow the District's plan regarding inclement weather, please note that you have the authority to keep your child at home for an excused absence whenever there are weather concerns.

2-Hour Delay

In the event of a 2-Hour Delay with a Modified Kindergarten, the following will take place:

Bethel Park School District students in grades 1-12 will follow the 2-Hour Delay schedule for instruction. Those schedules can be found here.

- Bethel Park High School (9:25 a.m. to 2:28 p.m.)
- Independence Middle School (9:24 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.)
- Neil Armstrong Middle School (10:05 a.m. to 3:02 p.m.)
- Elementary Schools (11:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)

The Modified Kindergarten Schedule for a 2-hour delay:

- AM students: 11:20 a.m. until 1 p.m.
- PM students: 2 p.m. until 3:40 p.m.

If conditions worsen unexpectedly and we need to close school for in-person instruction after a 2-Hour Delay is called, all students will attend school remotely following the 2-Hour Delay schedule.

Full Day Cancellation of In-Person Instruction

Remote Learning Days (RLDs)

Remote Learning Days (RLDs) are the district's primary response to unexpected school closures. These days ensure uninterrupted instruction while avoiding calendar adjustments, such as shortening breaks or extending the school year.

Initially introduced by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, RLDs have proven effective for targeted use. While in-person instruction remains irreplaceable, RLDs provide a viable short-term alternative when necessary.

How RLDs Work:

Virtual Attendance: Students log into Schoology and follow a modified two-hour delay schedule. Teachers or schools will provide specific login details and class times in advance.
Participation: Students must log in and actively engage in online learning activities throughout the day. Teachers will assign lessons and provide support comparable to regular school hours.
Transportation and Activities: No transportation is provided on RLDs, and district buildings are closed except to authorized personnel. Decisions about after-school activities will be made on a case-by-case basis.

What to Do During Power or Internet Outages:
We understand that inclement weather can occasionally affect power or internet access. If your family experiences such challenges during a Remote Learning Day, please inform your child’s teacher as soon as possible so we can provide alternate arrangements or make-up work.

Teacher Expectations:
Teachers will review and communicate assignments and expectations to ensure clarity and continuity during remote instruction.

RLDs allow the district to maintain educational continuity while preserving the school calendar, reflecting lessons learned from past experiences.

Remote Learning Days Attendance Procedures

Emergency School Closure/Snow Day

Emergency School Closures (ESC)—or "snow days," as they have long been known when they happen in the wintertime—are increasingly rare but may become necessary if there is an unexpected reason to close our schools, such as inclement weather, a broken pipe, a community-wide power outage, or other facilities-related issues.

During an ESC, students will not attend virtual teaching sessions, and their only "assignments" are to unplug, go outside if conditions permit, and HAVE FUN!

We also encourage students who can help shovel their parents' driveways and sidewalks and those of their neighbors who can't do it themselves.

How Does the District Determine When to Use a Remote Instruction Day or a Snow Day?

If the district determines in advance that inclement weather is very likely or imminent, remote instruction could be declared along with detailed instructions on the teachers’ expectations and procedures. A Snow Day will likely be announced when the inclement weather is unexpected or much more voluminous or treacherous than expected, and the school district determines that it cannot guarantee that every Bethel Park School District student can receive a quality education for that day(s). In those rare instances, no classwork will be assigned.

Please do not hesitate to contact your building principal with any additional questions regarding RLDs and Snow Days.

Communicating a School Delay or Cancellation

Contact List School delays and cancellations are communicated through multiple channels. The district uses the ParentSquare School-to-Home notification system to send alerts via phone and email to families and employees. Updates are also posted on local TV news stations, the district’s website, and Bethel Park’s social media platforms.

Who Receives Alerts:
Three primary groups can receive alerts, each with a slightly different process:

District Families
- Ensure your contact information in the eSchoolPlus parent portal is accurate, as it syncs directly with ParentSquare.
- Families are automatically enrolled in the notification system—no additional steps are required.
- You are encouraged to download the ParenSquare app in the App Store or Google Play.
- Please complete this form if you are a Bethel Park School District student or a family member of a BPSD student and are not receiving weather-related alerts from the school district.
District Employees
- Your information is synced to ParentSquare through ProSoft.
- Employees are automatically enrolled in the system; no action is needed.
- You are encouraged to download the ParenSquare app in the App Store or Google Play.
- Please click here if you are a Bethel Park School District employee and are not receiving weather-related alerts from the school district.
Non-District Employees
- Employees who work with district students but aren’t directly employed by the district (e.g., AIU therapists, food service staff, crossing guards) must enroll in the alert system.
- Complete this brief form with your name, preferred email, and cell phone number. Be sure to select any phone number where you want to receive notifications.
- You can also download the ParenSquare app in the App Store or Google Play.
- Please complete this form if you are a non-Bethel Park School District employee who works in or around Bethel Park schools are not receiving weather-related alerts from the school district.

For any questions about delays or cancellations, please contact the Communications Office.

Television Stations:

When the weather is bad, you can find the most up-to-date list of closings & delays on the websites of our local television stations, KDKA-TV (CBS), WPXI-TV (NBC) and WTAE-TV.

Social Media:
In addition to the ParentSquare school-to-home communication system and the local television stations, you can find the most up-to-date list of delays and cancellations on Bethel Park's social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Not Receiving Alerts?

There are three different groups that need to receive emergency messages from BPSD. They include District Families, District Employees and Non-District Employees.

All three groups follow slightly different processes to receive messages.

Please fill out the form that best describes your relationship to Bethel Park School District to ensure that you will receive alerts.

This group includes Bethel Park students and their immediate families.

This group includes Bethel Park employees.

This group includes people who work in Bethel Park schools but not for the district. It includes groups like food service employees, substitute teachers, crossing guards, therapists, etc.

Transportation Procedures During Delays and Cancellations

Click here to learn more about the district's transportation procedures during emergency delays or cancellations.

Building Contacts

Bethel Park High School
Email the Principal
412.854.8581

Independence Middle School

Email the Principal
412.854.8677

Neil Armstrong Middle School

Email the Principal

412.854.8751

Benjamin Franklin Elementary School

Email the Principal
412.854.8741

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Email the Principal

412.854.8618

Memorial Elementary School
Email the Principal
412.854.8506

William Penn Elementary School

Email the Principal

412.854.8522

George Washington Elementary School
Email the Principal

412.854.8546