Baltimore County Schools Approves Heat Closure Policy

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — When the temperature rises, Baltimore County Schools will close early.

That new policy was adopted by the county Board of Education Tuesday.

Of the county's 173 schools, 34 will be without AC at the start of the coming school year.

Last year, kids were pretty vocal about the heat, telling WJZ is wasn't the healthiest or most productive classroom environment.

The new rule goes into effect August 23, and it will mean schools with no air conditioning will close two hours early when the heat index reaches 90 degrees by 2 p.m.

If the forecast calls for 90 degrees by 11 a.m., schools will be closed the night before.

"That's an issue that we've been trying to focus on for quite a while," Govenor Larry Hogan said in response to the policy change.

"There are two jurisdictions basically who have failed to air condition classrooms, Baltimore County and Baltimore City, and the Board of Public Works has taken a very strong position that they need to fix it and they've refused to at this point. And now this is a perfect example of what happens next when you don't have air conditioning."

Days off for heat will be eligible for a waiver of three 180 days school year mandate.

Most but not all Baltimore County schools are expected to have air conditioning by 2017.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook