Why April 21 Is a Non-School Day

Balancing the Classroom and the Ballot Box on Election Day

By: Strategy and Accountability Chair Ryan Reyna (District A)

You may have heard that Alexandria City Public Schools has designated April 21 as a non-school day for students. I want to take a few minutes to explain that decision directly — what went into it, why this particular election is different from others we have navigated before, and why the School Board believes this is the right call even as we remain deeply committed to keeping students in classrooms.

I will say upfront: it is always my preference that schools are open and students are learning. That preference does not waver. But there are moments when the circumstances are genuinely unusual, and those moments deserve a genuine response. April 21 is one of them.

What's Happening on April 21

April 21 is Election Day for both a statewide Virginia referendum and the Alexandria City Council election. That combination — a high-stakes statewide ballot measure alongside a local municipal race — is expected to drive voter turnout significantly higher than what we typically see during off-cycle (or “special”) elections.

To be clear: we have kept schools open through previous special elections, including the Virginia House and Senate contests earlier this year. That election generated manageable levels of activity at school polling sites, and we were able to operate normally. This situation is different. State officials anticipate that turnout on April 21 will be comparable to a governor's race. That is not a routine scenario for our schools, and it requires a different response.

Nearly Half of Alexandria's Voters Cast Their Ballots in Our Schools

Before looking at the numbers, I didn’t fully appreciate the potential impact. Fourteen of Alexandria's 32 voting precincts are located inside school buildings. Several of those schools host two precincts under the same roof. In total, that means that 48% of the city's active registered voters — approximately 48,000 people — are assigned to vote at a school site.

If turnout on April 21 tracks with a typical governor's race, that would mean that nearly 12,000 adults could come through school buildings over the course of that single day. That is not foot traffic that school facilities — or school schedules — are designed to absorb while simultaneously serving thousands of students.

The Practical Realities Inside Our Buildings

It is worth walking through what Election Day actually looks like inside a school that is hosting a precinct, because the logistical complications are real and concrete.

In some of our schools, the cafeteria serves as the polling location. That means students lose access to their cafeteria for the entire day. Our meal plans are developed over a month in advance of a particular day. Any last minute shifts from hot meals to bagged breakfast and/or lunch can create issues with food inventory and preparation. In other schools, the gymnasium is the designated polling space, thereby limiting students’ access to physical education, athletics, and any other activities that rely on that space. These are not minor inconveniences. They affect meals, movement, and the rhythm of the school day in ways that are hard to fully compensate for.

Beyond space, there is a significant security dimension. Any doorway or corridor that connects a polling area to the rest of a school building must be staffed and monitored throughout the day to ensure that members of the public — however well-intentioned — are not freely accessing classrooms, hallways, or other areas where students are present. That is a non-negotiable requirement. The challenge is that our division does not have sufficient contracted security staff to cover all of the polling sites at the level this election demands. Hiring additional coverage would mean an unbudgeted expense at a moment when we are already navigating real fiscal constraints.

Add to that the effect on student transportation. Drop-off and pick-up logistics at schools that double as busy polling sites become considerably more complicated, with increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic arriving at the same time families are trying to safely drop off and retrieve their children.

Our Commitment to In-School Learning

I want to acknowledge something directly, because I know it is on many families' minds. This school year has already been disrupted by an extended winter storm at the start of the year that forced multiple school closures and days of virtual learning. Those are days we do not get back easily, and the Board is acutely aware of how much disruption our students have already absorbed.

That context makes decisions like this one harder, not easier. I do not take lightly the fact that April 21 adds another day to a year that has already had more interruptions than any of us would have chosen. Our commitment to in-person learning is not rhetoric — it is a genuine priority, and it is the lens through which I personally evaluate decisions that affect school operations.

Which is exactly why I want to be clear that this is not a casual or reflexive decision. The board examined this situation carefully, precisely because of that commitment.

Why This Situation Called for a Different Response

Every unusual situation deserves to be evaluated on its own terms, and this one has several factors that, taken together, made closing schools the right call.

The Alexandria Electoral Board requested that the school division designate April 21 as a non-school day. That request reflects their assessment of what safe and orderly election administration requires at sites that are also active school buildings — and we take that judgment seriously. Election administration is their area of expertise, and I trust that expertise.

It also bears noting that Alexandria City Public Schools will be in good company on April 21. All of our neighboring divisions — Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Manassas City, Mannassas Park, and Prince William County — have all made the same determination and designated the day as a non-school day. That regional consistency reflects a shared understanding of what this election represents in terms of scale and community impact.

Moving Forward Together

Civic participation and student learning are both things this community rightly values, and on most days those two commitments coexist without tension. April 21 is a day when they come into practical conflict inside our school buildings, and the Board has made the judgment that the responsible path is to step aside and let our schools serve as the civic infrastructure the community needs them to be that day.

We will continue to prioritize keeping students in school and making the most of every instructional day. This decision does not change that. If you have questions about what April 21 means for your family, please reach out to your school directly or contact the division office. And if you are one of the 48,000 Alexandrians assigned to vote at a school — I hope to see you at the polls.

Questions or feedback? I welcome the conversation. For information on your polling location or voter registration, visit the Alexandria Electoral Board's website.