Education
Education

Atlanta, Fulton school systems to extend school day for eclipse

In this handout photo provided by NASA, Alex Frye, 12, uses special viewing glasses to look at a partial solar eclipse from a highway overpass October 23, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
In this handout photo provided by NASA, Alex Frye, 12, uses special viewing glasses to look at a partial solar eclipse from a highway overpass October 23, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
By
July 28, 2017

Atlanta and Fulton County school officials will extend the school day on Aug. 21 to allow students to watch the total solar eclipse.

Atlanta will extend the school day by 30 minutes, officials announced Friday. Fulton officials said late Thursday they will delay release of elementary school students by 45 minutes on that day. Normal release time for elementary students is 2:20 p.m.

The solar eclipse will be viewable in Atlanta around 1:02 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., APS said in a news release, citing NASA.

Because the timing of the eclipse overlaps APS dismissal time, the school district is planning lessons about the eclipse into its classroom instruction. The district has ordered over 50,000 solar glasses for all students to safely view the eclipse.

Several other metro Atlanta school district announced plans earlier this week to extend the school day because of the eclipse.

In other Education news:

The back-to-school routine is not always a smooth adjustment for kids or their parents.

About the Author

Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.

Follow Eric Stirgus on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Devon Horton talks with members of the media after the DeKalb County Board of Education hired Horton for the superintendent position in April 2023. Horton discusses the district's priorities during an address Thursday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

DeKalb superintendent eyes higher grad rate, braces for future budget issues

DeKalb Superintendent Devon Horton talked about the ups and downs of education at the annual State of the District Address.

These Georgia students can’t use cellphones in school if Kemp signs bill

A ban on the use of cellphones in some Georgia schools now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp to sign, after lawmakers voted in favor of the bill.

How do you spell Georgia spelling bee champ? Sarv Dharavane

Two Georgia students will go on to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

The Latest

Devon Horton talks with members of the media after the DeKalb County Board of Education hired Horton for the superintendent position in April 2023. Horton discusses the district's priorities during an address Thursday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

DeKalb superintendent eyes higher grad rate, braces for future budget issues

These Georgia students can’t use cellphones in school if Kemp signs bill

How do you spell Georgia spelling bee champ? Sarv Dharavane

Featured

Much of Georgia is under a Level 3 of 5 risk for severe weather on March 31, 2025. The far northern portion of the state is under a Level 2 and 1 risk.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Radar-confirmed tornado spotted in counties south of Atlanta

33m ago

3 of 4 U.S. soldiers who went missing in Lithuania have been found dead

Three of four U.S. soldiers who went missing in Lithuania have been found dead. The soldiers had been stationed at Georgia's Fort Stewart.

Lucy McBath suspends bid for governor as husband battles cancer

Four-term U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath suspends bid for Georgia governor.