Why are some schools closing for the solar eclipse?

The April 8 total solar eclipse will have millions of people gazing toward the sky as the moon tracks its way in front of the sun. And while some schools have special events planned, others – especially along the 15-state path of totality – are closing their doors that day.

Some schools in Texas, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia are altering schedules that day – either canceling, starting late or dismissing early, according to multiple media reports.

Reasons for the closures vary from concerns over students attempting to look at the eclipse without safety glasses to the timing of the eclipse putting students arriving or leaving during the darkest part of the event. Other districts cite the increase in traffic due to visitors arriving to see the eclipse. Others cited personnel issues as teachers and students wanted to see the eclipse.

“We knew already going into this day that potentially we were going to have a need for substitute teachers and a need for volunteers at the campus level, so there were just a lot of operational considerations,” Marco Alvarado, executive director for communications at Lake Travis schools told Fox7 in Austin, Texas, adding traffic was also a major factor.

“The start of the school day could be an issue for campuses and, of course, pick up right. Dismissal could also be a real challenge,” Alvarado told the station.

Millions of people are expected to flock to the path of totality that will start in Mexico and move across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before heading out over the North Atlantic. Small portions of Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee will also be in the path of totality.

The school closures are just one of the steps being taken to lessen the impact of the crowds. Some states are activating the National Guard while others are advising people to stock up on food and water ahead of the event.

Meanwhile, NASA is calling on eclipse watchers to help their research through its Citizen Science program. You can see more on how you can help here.