ILLINOIS — Lingering effects of a winter storm that brought snowfall, extreme cold and hazardous travel conditions across Illinois have led many school districts and educational institutions to adjust schedules, cancel in-person learning, or operate via e-learning on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. Continued bitter cold and unsafe roads are cited in many announcements.
Metro East and Southwestern Illinois
Several systems in the Metro East and southern Illinois regions have announced closures or remote learning for Tuesday:
- Edwardsville District 7 — Will extend e-learning for Tuesday due to ongoing unsafe road conditions and travel hazards for students and staff. Father McGivney High School will also continue with remote learning Tuesday.
- St. Mary’s Catholic School (Edwardsville) — Classes canceled Tuesday.
Wider Central and Southern Illinois Plans
Local reports list numerous public schools planning e-learning days or closures for Tuesday across numerous counties, reflecting the statewide impact of the winter storm (this list is representative of many district plans statewide, with details varying by district):
- Akin Grade School — E-learning day
- Benton Grade School District 47 — E-learning day
- Bethel Grade School (Mt. Vernon) — E-learning
- Brownstown Schools — Closed
- Carbondale High School & other Carbondale schools — Closed
- Carmi-White County Schools — Closed
- Centralia City Schools & Centralia High School — E-learning day
- Carterville Unit 5 — E-learning day
- Cobden Schools — Closed
- Christopher Schools — E-learning day
- Hamilton County Unit 10 — E-learning day
- Harrisburg Schools — Closed
- Mt. Vernon City Schools — E-learning day
- Nashville CCSD #49 / Nashville High School — Mixed closures/e-learning
- Rend Lake College, Lincoln Trail Community College, Kaskaskia College, Wabash Valley College — Closed
- Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) — Closed
(Many districts and campuses in southern and central Illinois are planning remote or closed instruction for Tuesday.)
This representative list shows the range of school plans across the region; parents and guardians should check individual district notices for full details, including extracurricular and athletic cancellations.
Chicago Area Conditions
In the Chicago metro area, snow has moved out but bitter cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills remain, prompting some schools in the region to remain closed Tuesday or consider additional weather-related adjustments. Wind chills well below zero have been reported, increasing safety concerns for students traveling to and from school.
Weather and Safety Context
The winter storm that struck Illinois over the weekend brought snowfall and extreme cold temperatures, with some areas experiencing wind chills well below zero. State and local transportation officials have warned of icy roads and lingering cold, which have contributed to decisions by many districts to cancel in-person instruction or shift to e-learning for safety reasons.
