Robertson County Schools to Request Snow Day Waiver After Winter Storm

School district missed 10 consecutive days due to deadly January storm, seeks state approval to waive some snow days.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

The Robertson County School District in Tennessee is requesting that the Tennessee Department of Education waive some of its snow days following a recent deadly winter storm. The district missed 10 consecutive days due to the storm and used two additional days because of an election last year, exceeding its typical 10-day snow day allotment. To make up for the lost instructional time, the school board voted to change a professional development day into an instructional day, and is hoping the state will approve its request for a snow day waiver.

Why it matters

School districts across the country often struggle to balance providing sufficient instructional time for students while also accounting for unexpected weather events that force school closures. This request highlights the challenges Robertson County Schools faced after an unusually severe winter storm, and the steps they are taking to ensure students receive the required amount of classroom time.

The details

Robertson County School District (RCSD) typically gets about 10 snow days per year to use for inclement weather. During the January 2026 winter storm, RCSD missed 10 consecutive days of school and also used 2 additional days due to an election, exceeding their 10-day allotment. To make up for the lost instructional time, the school board voted to change a professional development day scheduled for March 2nd into an instructional day. RCSD is now requesting that the Tennessee Department of Education approve a waiver to excuse some of the snow days used, citing the state of emergency declared by TEMA during the severe winter storm.

  • In January 2026, RCSD missed 10 consecutive days of school due to a winter storm.
  • RCSD also used 2 snow days in the previous year due to an election.

The players

Robertson County School District

The public school district serving Robertson County, Tennessee.

Tennessee Department of Education

The state agency responsible for overseeing and regulating public education in Tennessee.

TEMA

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, which declared a state of emergency during the January 2026 winter storm.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Tennessee Department of Education will decide whether to approve RCSD's request for a snow day waiver.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges school districts face in balancing instructional time requirements with the need to close schools for severe weather events. RCSD's request for a snow day waiver demonstrates the importance of state-level flexibility to support districts impacted by unusual or extreme weather conditions.