South Carolina Department of Education Latest School Closings and Delays

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When severe weather strikes the Palmetto State, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) coordinates with local districts and emergency officials to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Current School Closings and Delays Status

How to Find Official Closing Information

South Carolina utilizes a centralized reporting system to keep the public informed. You can check the status of your specific district through the following official channels:

https://www.google.com/search?q=SCSchoolClosings.com: This is the primary public-facing portal used by the SCDE and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD). It provides a real-time list of all public school closures and delays statewide.
SCDE Official Website: The SCDE Calendars and Closures page provides links to the statewide reporting system and annual academic calendars.
The SC Emergency Manager App: Available for mobile devices, this app lists state and county government closings, which often align with school district decisions.
Local Media Crawls: SCETV (Educational Television and Radio) broadcasts a “crawl” of school closings across the state during emergency weather events.

Understanding District Decisions

In South Carolina, the final authority to close or delay schools rests with the District Superintendent, not the state department. However, they follow strict safety guidelines provided by the SCDE:

1. The “High Wind” Rule

School buses in South Carolina are prohibited from operating if sustained wind speeds exceed 30 MPH or if gusts exceed 45 MPH. This is often the reason for closures during tropical storms or high-wind winter events, even if there is no snow on the ground.

2. eLearning Days

Most South Carolina districts are now “SCDE-approved eLearning districts.” This means that instead of “snow days” that must be made up at the end of the year, students may be required to log in and complete assignments remotely.

Note: Districts are typically allowed up to five (5) eLearning days per school year for inclement weather before they must begin using designated “makeup days” on the calendar.

3. Reporting Timeline

Superintendents aim to make weather-related decisions by 5:30 AM to allow transportation teams and parents enough time to react. Notifications are usually sent via:

Automated phone calls and SMS (ParentSquare or Blackboard).
District social media pages (Facebook/X).
Local news outlets in major hubs like Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville.

Get the latest school closings, cancellations, and delays. View school closures for South Carolina from South Carolina Department of Education.

The South Carolina Department of Education is the state education agency of South Carolina. It is headquartered in Columbia at the Rutledge Building.-Wikipedia