Bald Eagle Area School District Maintains Flexible Instruction Days with New Weather Make-Up Days

District officials hope using built-in make-up days can provide more traditional school days for students.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A hazy, dreamlike scene of students walking through a school hallway, with soft, warm light and blurred edges, conveying the atmosphere of a flexible learning environment.The Bald Eagle Area School District's balanced approach to flexible and traditional instruction days aims to provide students with the benefits of both in-person and remote learning.Bellefonte Today

Despite some changes to its 2026-27 academic calendar, the Bald Eagle Area School District in Pennsylvania is not eliminating its use of flexible instruction days. The new calendar features four built-in 'weather make-up days' that can be used in place of traditional snow days or flexible instruction days if severe weather strikes. However, the district plans to use these weather make-up days before resorting to flexible instruction days, allowing for more in-person school days.

Why it matters

Flexible instruction days have become a common tool for school districts to adapt to weather-related closures, but some parents and educators prefer traditional in-person schooling. Bald Eagle Area's approach aims to balance the need for flexibility with the benefits of face-to-face learning.

The details

The 2026-27 calendar approved by the Bald Eagle Area School District board includes four weather make-up days on December 23, February 15, March 25, and March 29. These days can be used in place of flexible instruction days if severe weather or other issues force school closures. However, the district plans to use the weather make-up days first before relying on flexible instruction days. Superintendent Christopher Santini stated that the district wants to maximize the number of traditional in-person school days, as they provide important resources and support for students.

  • The 2026-27 school calendar was approved by the Bald Eagle Area School District board on Wednesday.
  • The first day of school for the 2026-27 academic year is August 31, 2026.
  • The weather make-up days are scheduled for December 23, 2026 and February 15, 2027.

The players

Christopher Santini

Superintendent of the Bald Eagle Area School District.

Bald Eagle Area School District

A public school district located in Pennsylvania that is maintaining the use of flexible instruction days while also incorporating new weather make-up days into its academic calendar.

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What they’re saying

“We will still have flexible instruction days. We plan to keep them as an option, but we also have additional weather make-up days we can use in place of a few FIDs. We plan to use [weather make-up days] more than we have in the past few years.”

— Christopher Santini, Superintendent

“I like having kids in school. I think it's more effective. When kids are in school, we know that they heave heat and are getting a breakfast and a lunch. For some of our kids, that's important.”

— Christopher Santini, Superintendent

What’s next

The Bald Eagle Area School District is currently working to organize and submit its next application for three-year access to flexible instruction days, as its current license will expire on June 30.

The takeaway

Bald Eagle Area's approach to the 2026-27 academic calendar demonstrates how school districts are seeking to balance the need for flexibility with the benefits of traditional in-person learning. By incorporating weather make-up days, the district aims to provide more face-to-face instruction time for students while still maintaining flexible instruction days as an option when necessary.