ABC 7 Chicago Latest School Closings and Delays

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As winter weather patterns shift through the Midwest, families across Chicagoland rely on ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding school closings, late starts, and e-learning transitions.

Current School Closings and Delays Status

How to Check the ABC 7 Closing List

ABC 7 Chicago utilizes a comprehensive reporting system fed by the Emergency Closing Center (ECC). You can track your specific school through the following methods:

Online Search: The ABC 7 Chicago School Closings page allows you to search by facility name, city, or county.
The ABC 7 App: Available for iOS and Android, the app provides real-time “Weather Alerts” that include major district-wide closures.
On-Air Ticker: During ABC 7 Eyewitness News in the morning (4:00 AM – 9:00 AM), a rolling ticker at the bottom of the screen lists all active closings in alphabetical order.

Key Terms You Need to Know

Superintendents often use specific terminology to describe how the school day is modified. Understanding these can help you plan your morning:

Term	Impact on Students
Closed	No physical or remote classes; usually a traditional “snow day” to be made up later in the year.
E-Learning Day	School buildings are closed, but students are expected to log in for remote instruction.
Late Start (2-Hour)	School begins two hours after the normal start time; morning bus routes are delayed by the same margin.
Early Dismissal	Classes end early due to deteriorating weather conditions; check your email for specific pickup times.

Decision Factors

The decision to close a school is rarely made by the news station itself. Instead, ABC 7 reports decisions made by district superintendents who weigh several factors:

Wind Chill: If the “feels like” temperature drops below -20°F, many districts (including CPS) consider closing for student safety at bus stops.
Busing Logistics: Diesel engines in older buses can struggle to start in extreme cold, and unplowed side streets can make routes impassable.
Facility Safety: Power outages or broken water pipes caused by freezing temperatures can trigger immediate closures.

Staying Prepared

To ensure you never miss a notification, verify that your contact information is updated in your school’s automated notification system (such as PowerSchool or Infinite Campus). Most districts will send a text or “robocall” between 5:00 AM and 6:00 AM on the day of a weather event.

Get the latest school closings, cancellations, and delays. View school closures for Illinois from ABC 7 Chicago. ABC7 is Chicago’s source for breaking news, weather and live video. Covering politics, health, traffic and sports for Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana.

WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is an ABC owned-and-operated television station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States. The station is owned by the ABC Owned Television Stations subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.-Wikipedia