NY Public Schools Must Stay Closed Until End Of Term: Cuomo

NEW YORK CITY — New York public schools will remain closed for the remainder of the spring semester as the state battles the spread of the new coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday.

All of New York's 4,800 public schools were ordered to remain closed and continue remote learning.

"Schools by definition have higher density," said Cuomo. "The decisions on education are obviously critically important."

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Decisions on summer school will be made at the end of the month and on New York's stay-at-home order will be announced on May 15, Cuomo said.

Cuomo declined to say when a decision would be made on reopening next semester.

"There is no decision on the fall," Cuomo said, "because the fall is a long way away."

New York schools have been closed since March 15 and remote learning began for all grades K through 12 on March 23.

The city's public school system provides education to 1.1 million students, more than any other in the nation.

Schools and colleges must begin developing plans to reopen, which will be approved by the state when it is safe to do so, Cuomo said.

As they develop those plans, New York schools could also be grappling with severe financial cuts as New York City and State budgets face billions of dollars in budget deficits.

"This COVID crisis has caused significant disruption," said Cuomo. "This is going to be a real exercise ... how does a school socially distance?"

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