(Image: PA Dept. of Education)
On Monday, the state Dept. of Education announced it’s extending the closure of all Pennsylvania schools through April 6. This in hopes of mitigating the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.
“Protecting the health and safety of students, families, teachers and all employees who work in our schools is paramount during this national health crisis and we must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus,” Education Sec. Pedro Rivera says. “The number of positive cases increases daily and we’re seeing it spread to more counties. We must adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Extending the closure will help every community in its efforts to mitigate the spread.”
Pennsylvania Schools Now Closed Thru April 6 on Coronavirus Fears
Even if schools are reopened on April 7, the state says teachers and staff get 2 more days to enter the schools and get things prepped for students returning. At this point, the earliest students would return is April 9.
Additionally, schools can begin working with local IUs to develop “continuing education” plans through any coronavirus-related orders in place that restrict using schools.
“We know students are eager to engage with their teachers and return to learning,” Rivera says. “Beginning tomorrow, all schools will be able to work with their local intermediate unit to develop instructional plans for all students, including those with disabilities and English language learners.”
School closures were extended through April 6 to match up with a “stay-at-home” order issued Monday by Gov. Tom Wolf for 7 specific counties: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, Montgomery and Philadelphia.
Standardized Tests Cancelled
Last week, the state’s Education Dept. cancelled all PSSA, PASA, and Keystone standardized tests for the 2019-2020 school term. On Monday, the department extended these cancellations to include tests for CTE students, including those from National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) and National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS).
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SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus in Schuylkill County
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