ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A total solar eclipse will be passing over North America on April 8 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. In preparation for the event, many schools in the Capital Region have announced they will be closing that day, having early dismissal, and/or canceling after-school activities.

A total solar eclipse happens when a part of the earth is engulfed in a shadow cast by the moon which fully blocks sunlight. To keep your eyes safe, you need special solar viewing glasses to view the eclipse.

In the Capital Region, the maximum eclipse will be seen between 3:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. In Albany, the eclipse is set to start at 2:12 p.m. and end at 4:36 p.m., with the max eclipse happening at 3:26 p.m.

Many schools in the area are adjusting their schedules so students can safely view the solar eclipse. These are the Capital Region schools that have announced a day off, have early dismissal, or canceled after-school activities on April 8. You can check back for updates in case more schools announce a change.

Closed

Albany County

  • Green Island Unified School District
  • Ravena Coeymans Selkirk Central School District

Columbia County

  • Germantown Central School District, day off as part of spring recess
  • Ichabod Crane Central School District, using a snow day

Fulton County

  • Broadalbin-Perth Central School District, using a snow day
  • Canajoharie Central School District
  • Gloversville Enlarged School District, spring break
  • Greater Johnstown School District, using snow day
  • Mayfield Central School District, using a snow day
  • Northville Central School District, using a snow day

Greene County

  • Catskill Central School District, using a snow day
  • Hunter-Tannersville Central School District, using a snow day
  • Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School, as part of spring recess

Montgomery County

  • Fonda-Fultonville Central School District, using a snow day
  • Greater Amsterdam School District
  • Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District, using a snow day

Rensselaer County

  • Berlin Central School District, using a snow day
  • Brunswick-Brittonkill Central School District, using a snow day
  • East Greenbush Central School District, using a snow day
  • Hoosic Valley Central School District
  • Troy City School District
  • Wynantskill Union Free School District, using a snow day

Saratoga County

  • Edinburg Common School, using a snow day
  • Mechanicville City School District
  • Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District, using snow day

Schenectady County

  • Duanesburg Central School District, using a snow day
  • Niskayuna Central School District
  • Schalmont Central School District, using a snow day
  • Schenectady City School District, as part of spring recess

Schoharie County

  • Gilboa-Conesville Central School, using a snow day
  • Jefferson Central School District, using a snow day
  • Schoharie Central School District
  • Sharon Springs Central School District

Warren County

  • Hadley-Luzerne Central School District, using emergency day
  • North Warren Central School District, using snow day

Washington County

  • Fort Ann Central School District, using a snow day
  • Fort Edward Union Free School District, using a snow day
  • Granville Central School District, using a snow day
  • Hartford Central School District, using a snow day

Early Dismissal

Albany County

  • Albany City School District
    • Early start elementary dismissal at 12:30 p.m.
    • Late start elementary dismissal at 1:30 p.m.
    • Middle schools and Tony Clement Center for Education dismissal at 12:45 p.m.
    • Albany High School and Albany International Center 6-12 dismissal at 1:30 p.m.
  • Bethlehem Central School District
    • Early dismissal for elementary students at 1:30 p.m.
  • Guilderland Central School District
    • Guilderland High School dismissal at 10:30 a.m.
    • Farnsworth Middle School dismissal at 11:45 a.m.
    • Elementary schools at 1 p.m.
  • North Colonie Central School District
    • Shaker High School dismissal at 11:15 a.m.
    • Shaker Middle School dismissal at 12:15 p.m.
    • Elementary schools dismiss at 1:15 p.m.
  • South Colonie Central School District, half-day dismissal
  • Watervliet City School District, half day

Columbia County

  • Chatham Central School District
    • Early dismissal for CMS at 12:50 p.m., MED at 1 p.m., and CHS at 1:10 p.m.
  • New Lebanon Central School District, dismissing Jr/Sr. High School at 12:15 p.m. and Elementary at 1:15 p.m.
  • Taconic Hills Central School District, students will be dismissed an hour early, after-school activities canceled

Greene County

  • Cairo-Durham Central School District, Middle and High School dismissing at 11:45 a.m. and Elementary at 12:45 p.m., no afternoon Pre-K

Montgomery County

  • Fort Plain Central School District, dismissal at 1:30 p.m.

Rensselaer County

  • Averill Park Central School District
    • Half-day for elementary students
  • Hoosick Falls Central School District
    • Early dismissal at 11:30 a.m. for middle and high school students and 12:30 p.m. for elementary students
  • Rensselaer City School District, dismissing students 45 minutes early

Saratoga County

  • Ballston Spa Central School District
    • All students to be dismissed an hour early
    • Sports practices to start at 4:30 p.m. with games starting at 5 p.m.
  • Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District, half-day for K-5
  • Saratoga Springs City School District, half day for elementary students
  • Schuylerville Central School District
    • The high school and middle school dismissing at 1:41 p.m.
    • UPK dismissing at 2 p.m.
    • Elementary school dismissing at 2:25 p.m.
    • Athletic practices held inside until 5 p.m. and then resume outside
  • Shenendehowa Central School District
    • Arongen, Karigon, Orenda, Shatekon, Skano, Tesago dismiss at 11:15 a.m.
    • Chango and Okte dismiss at 12:15 a.m.
    • High School dismisses at 12:15 p.m.
    • Middle School dismisses at 1:15 p.m.
  • Stillwater Central School District
    • MS/HS dismissal at 12:19 p.m.
    • Elementary dismissal at 1:19 p.m.

Schenectady County

  • Scotia-Glenville Central School District
    • Glendaal Elementary dismissing at11:20 a.m.
    • Glen-Worden Elementary dismissing at 11:45 a.m.
    • Lincoln Elementary dismissing at 11:45 a.m.
    • Sacandaga Elementary dismissing at 11:20 a.m.
    • Middle School dismissing at 11:25 a.m.
    • High School dismissing at 11:30 a.m.
  • Mohonasen Central School District, dismissing one hour early

Schoharie County

  • Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District, dismissing two hours early

Warren County

  • Bolton Central School District, Pre-K students dismissed at 1 p.m., all other students dismissing at 1:50 p.m.
  • Glens Falls City School District, half-day
  • Warrensburg Central School District
    • Elementary dismissing at 11:45 a.m., junior/Senior High School dismissing at noon

Washington County

  • Cambridge Central School District, dismissing at 12:10 p.m.
  • Salem Central School District, dismissing students at 1 p.m., after-school activities canceled

After-school activities canceled

Columbia County

  • Hudson City School District

Rensselaer County

  • Schodack Central School District

Warren County

  • Lake George Central School District
    • Spring sports practices will start after 5 p.m.
    • Holding a solar eclipse viewing event on the athletic fields after school

You can look up where and how much of the eclipse will be visible on the Eclipse Soundscapes website. The next time a total solar eclipse will be seen from New York is in 2079.