Solar Eclipse Safety Guidance

Dear Clark County School District families:

As you may have heard, a solar eclipse will be occurring on Monday, April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse is something that will not happen again for another 20 years. While we are not in the path to observe the total solar eclipse, we will still experience a partial eclipse in southern Nevada from approximately 10:12 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event may impact regularly scheduled outdoor activities, student arrivals, or dismissal times. However, the regular school day will proceed as usual.

While this is a rare and exciting astronomical event, viewing it without protection presents risk of eye injury to everyone, especially children who may not understand the dangers of looking directly at the sun.

Direct viewing of the sun during a solar eclipse can cause serious eye damage. We cannot stress enough the importance of safety precautions and the risks associated with this historical event. We urge families to review the Eye Safety During a Total Solar Eclipse guidance published by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and have open and honest conversations with their child(ren) about taking safety precautions during the eclipse. Please discuss the importance of eye safety with your child and ensure they understand the risks associated with looking directly at the sun without proper protection.

If you decide to observe the eclipse with your child, please ensure that you both use approved solar viewing glasses or other safe viewing methods. Please remind your child never to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.

Your child’s safety is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring the safety of our students during this unique event. Please check in with your student’s school(s) for specific guidance or concerns regarding your child.