What Impact Will Coronavirus Outbreak Have On Graduating Seniors?

ACROSS FLORIDA —Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' has announced that all public schools testing for the remainder of the school year has been canceled and parents will be given the option to keep their children in the same grade for the 2020-21 school year.

This includes all statewide assessments for school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten and kindergarten through 12th grade. Even if students are permitted to return to school after April 15, DeSantis said there will still be no testing.

DeSantis said requirements for students to be promoted to the next grade will be evaluated by teachers as if the state tests did not exist.

On Tuesday, DeSantis announced that all public schools will be closed through April 15.

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School districts in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are already ramping up virtual learning opportunities so students can continue their education online during the four-week hiatus.

DeSantis is allowing school districts to use flexible funding to purchase mobile devices for students who can't afford them.

Last week, Charter Communications stepped up and offered free access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi for 60-days.

DeSantis has not yet addressed senior graduation requirements and the impact of the school closures on graduating seniors at Florida's 2,227 public and private high schools.

Graduation requirements must be re-evaluated to make up for the testing that didn’t take place.

Seniors are also dealing with the reality that they most likely won't have a senior prom or graduation ceremony. Many high schools that had proms scheduled in March and April have rescheduled them for May. Now it's uncertain if the rescheduled proms will take place.

Additionally, students who were just celebrating their acceptances to colleges and universities are now uncertain if the universities will open in the fall.

All colleges and universities, including private institutions, are being directed to finish out their semesters online and “be prepared to extend their educational calendars through June 30," according to the Florida Department of Education.

Tampa Bay Patch would like to hear from graduating seniors and their parents. How is this news impacting them and what alternatives are they considering? Email editor D'Ann Lawrence White at dann.white@patch.com.