# Do Public K\-12 Schools Close for Presidents‘ Day?

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/do-public-k-12-schools-close-for-presidents-day/
- Published: 2024-02-19
- Author: Charlene Farwell
- Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/)

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Presidents‘ Day is a US federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. Originally established to honor President George Washington‘s birthday on February 22, it has evolved into a celebration of all past presidents and their contributions. But do public K-12 schools close to observe the holiday, or do they typically hold classes as scheduled?

## Brief History Behind Presidents‘ Day

In 1879, Washington‘s birthday became the first federal holiday honoring an individual citizen. In the late 1960s, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act establishing the third Monday in February as a holiday for Washington‘s birthday and other federal holidays. This created more three-day weekends for workers.

Over time, the holiday informally became known as Presidents‘ Day as a way to also honor Abraham Lincoln (whose birthday is February 12) and recognize other presidents. It‘s still officially designated as "Washington‘s Birthday" though few now call it by that name.

## State Observances

Presidents‘ Day is a federal holiday, but states can decide how to handle closures of government offices and public schools. Currently, all 50 states observe Presidents‘ Day as a state holiday with closures.

People often gather for parades, museum exhibits, community events to celebrate presidents, though retailers also capitalize on the long weekend with major sales.

## Do Schools Close?

The short answer is – **yes, most public K-12 schools close to observe Presidents‘ Day**, giving students and teachers the holiday off.

However, there are some exceptions:

### Year-Round School Schedules

Some schools follow year-round schedules with shorter, more frequent breaks instead of a long summer vacation. They may stay open on Presidents‘ Day to maintain educational continuity.

### Make-Up Days for Snow

In winter-prone regions, schools may use Presidents‘ Day as a make-up day for snow days. By staying open, they ensure students get enough instructional time without extending deep into summer.

### Teacher Work Days

Some districts have students stay home while teachers and staff report for professional development workshops, training, and planning – maximizing the use of the day off.

### District Calendar Differences

Individual school districts can set their own calendars, and closure policies for Presidents‘ Day may vary. Some may not include it as a day off.

## Always Check Your District‘s Calendar

Due to local control over school calendars, the best way to confirm whether your school closes for Presidents‘ Day is **to check published calendars for your specific district**. This holds true for any school break – don‘t assume all districts follow the same holiday schedule.

With regional differences in customs, regulations, weather impacts, and more, there can be valid reasons for some schools to remain open on federal holidays. But in most cases, public schools will close to enable a long weekend to celebrate our presidents.

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Source: [Do Public K\-12 Schools Close for Presidents‘ Day?](https://33rdsquare.com/do-public-k-12-schools-close-for-presidents-day/)