Because New Jersey is in the middle of a public health emergency, school districts have the choice to either institute a snow day due to the Wednesday-Thursday nor'easter impacting the state or keep kids learning remotely so that the day still counts towards the 180 necessary to make a full year.
But once the pandemic is over, districts may never have that chance again.
According to the state's rules, only in-person instruction days can count towards a full year in a post-pandemic New Jersey.
"When we are no longer under this public health emergency, the authorization to use virtual/remote instruction in lieu of a snow day will only apply if the district is closed for more than three consecutive school days due to a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure," the Department of Education told New Jersey 101.5 in an email.