ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Northeast Florida school districts are taking a variety of approaches to the upcoming solar eclipse on Aug. 21. Most are excusing absences for students and keeping dismissal times the same Monday, but some are making adjustments.
For information you need to know about the eclipse and what your child's district has planned, see below.
St. Johns County
If you decide to keep your child home from school or check them out early in St. Johns County on Aug. 21 for the solar eclipse, it will be counted as an excused absence, according to the school district.
The St. Johns County School District said normal dismissal procedures will be followed for that day. If you are concerned and decide to keep your child home, the school district will treat it as it does with other inclement-weather situations and count it as an excused absence.
If you are concerned and decide to check out your child early, the school district will also count it as an excused absence. That should happen within the school’s normal checkout times and procedures, the school district said.
If you have any questions about early checkout, contact your child’s school.
Duval County
All outdoor activities between 1 and 4:30 p.m. are being canceled or moved indoors for Duval County schools.
All absences will be excused, and dismissal times will remain the same.
A safety advisory will be sent home with students, which will provide parents different options regarding their child’s view of the solar eclipse.
For more information, go to www.duvalschools.org/eclipse.
Clay County
All Clay County Schools will proceed as scheduled on Aug. 21 during the solar eclipse. All outside after-school and athletic activities will be moved indoors from 1 to 4:15 p.m.
The district is encouraging all faculty, staff, students and parents to take appropriate safety measures when viewing the eclipse. Due to the impact of the event, schools might experience unintentional delays in transportation. However, the district is asking for everyone to remain on schedule with regularly released hours. The district’s Operations Department will be working with all school-based leaders to ensure that proper lighting is available during the timing of the eclipse.
“We are looking forward to this educational opportunity. We know teachers are working to develop lessons that are aligned to this event. It is imperative that staff members work collectively with their principals to obtain approval for all activities to ensure student safety,” Superintendent Addison Davis said. “All outdoor activities must have approved equipment along with proper guidance to students in order to have a safe learning experience.”
If you have reservations about your child participating in any activities related to this solar event, complete the opt out form HERE and return it to the school on or before Friday.
The district will excuse absences for students who miss school because of the eclipse Monday.
For frequently asked questions about the eclipse and how it will affect Clay County, click here.
Columbia County
Public schools will be open on Monday. Students will be permitted, however, to take an excused absence from classes. Officials said the normal dismissal procedures will be in effect Monday.
For more information, click here or call Columbia County Schools Office of the Superintendent at 386-755-8003.
Baker County
Out of an abundance of caution for student and staff safety, Baker County will alter its dismissal schedule on Aug. 21.
To avoid transporting students during the time of the eclipse, Baker County Middle School and Baker County High School will have a special early dismissal schedule for Monday only, with the middle school releasing students at 11:30 a.m. and the high school releasing walkers and car riders at 11:20 a.m. and bus riders at 11:50 a.m.
The district has made the decision to keep elementary school students longer to keep them from traveling or being home unsupervised during the eclipse. Elementary schools in Baker County will be released at 4:30 p.m. Monday. During the time of the eclipse, students will not be allowed outside.
Absences will be excused for students.
For more Baker County eclipse information, click here.
Nassau County
Based on safety concerns, the Nassau County school district is making Monday a half-day for all schools.
Releasing students early, based on the district's half-day schedule, will allow all of its K-5 bus routes to have children home before the beginning of the eclipse.
Secondary schools that have planned eclipse-related activities may proceed with their plans, but students will participate on a voluntary basis and those that stay for the activities will need to make arrangements for their own transportation home, the district said.
For specific dismissal times for each school, click here.
Bradford County
Bradford County schools will join other Florida school districts in making Monday an early release day for the solar eclipse.
Please note the following dismissal times: All elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m. Bradford Middle School, Bradford-Union Technical Center and Bradford High School will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. For questions, call 904-966-6018.
Putnam County
Early release has been approved for the day. Most elementary schools to be dismissed at 11:20 a.m., most middle schools at 12:40 p.m. and high schools at 12:30 p.m.
For full list of times and details, click here.
Other districts
For information on how surrounding counties are handling the solar eclipse, click here.
What to know
The Weather Authority Meteorologist Rebecca Barry said for Northeast Florida, the eclipse will begin at 1:16 p.m. and the sun will be 90 percent covered for about two minutes at 2:47 p.m., which is during elementary school dismissal time in St. Johns County.
Even during a partial eclipse, there are safety concerns for students and staff. The St. Johns County School District asks that you communicate with your child about the importance of following these safety precautions:
- Do not look directly at the sun during the solar eclipse, as it could be harmful to your vision.
- Do not look at the sun without proper eye protection.
- Do not look at the sun through a telescope or binoculars.
- Do not look at the sun through sunglasses, smoked glasses, or welder's glasses.
- Do not look at the sun through a camera/smartphone.
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special, certified eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun.
NASA officials even created an easy-to-read flyer about how to tell if the glasses you’ve chosen are safe.