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A punishing winter storm has kept students out of classrooms across the D.C. area, leaving school districts to defend extended closures and consider adding makeup days to their calendars.

Frigid temperatures, icy sidewalks and impassable roads forced several school systems to close for most or all of the week. Parents are now asking how the lost instructional time will affect the remainder of the school year.

Prince George’s County Public Schools includes five weather-related closure days in its calendar, but the district has already missed seven days because of the storm.

Officials are expected to present a revised calendar to the school board Thursday. The proposal could restore two instructional days, including Presidents’ Day on Feb. 16 and possibly an extra day at the end of the school year.

District spokesperson Denise Douglas said officials hope to avoid using weekdays during spring break. Extending the school year by a day or so remains an option, though the district would prefer not to do that.

Another major storm could force the system to consider virtual instruction, Douglas said, as officials try to avoid extending classes into a fourth week of June.

Fairfax superintendent defends Monday closure

Fairfax County Public Schools has also faced criticism after students remained home for more than a week while public and private crews struggled to clear compacted snow, ice and sleet.

Superintendent Michelle Reid defended the decision to close schools again Monday, saying many county streets, sidewalks and bus stops remained unsafe.

More than 1,000 school employees worked during and after the storm to clear approximately 40,000 parking spaces and 400 acres of paved property, Reid said.

Transportation conditions beyond school grounds were also a major concern. Nearly 130,000 Fairfax students ride buses each day, while another 50,000 walk or are driven by their parents. School officials who toured the county over the weekend found that numerous sidewalks and bus stops had not been cleared.

Reid said the district must ensure that students can reach schools and bus stops safely, making the closure decision more complicated than simply clearing school property.

Fairfax still has room in its calendar if more severe weather arrives. The district generally sets aside 10 days for emergency weather closures, and Monday marked the fourth day used.

Fairfax County schools were scheduled to reopen Tuesday with a two-hour delay as officials looked to warmer temperatures to improve conditions.