PA School Closures Extended Through April 6

HARRISBURG, PA — All schools in Pennsylvania will remain closed through at least April 6 in response to the new coronavirus outbreak, state officials announced Monday.

Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said the decision to extend school closures aligns with Gov. Tom Wolf's stay-at-home order issued Monday for seven counties, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

"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,” Rivera said. "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."

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The order doubles Pennsylvania's first current statewide order to close schools for two weeks. Individual schools and districts had shut down earlier in response to local cases of COVID-19.

Monday's additional school closure will be for 14 days, beginning Tuesday, March 24.

Rivera also announced Monday that standardized testing for student in career and technical education programs has been canceled for the 2019-20 school year. This includes exams from the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute and National Institute of Metalworking Skills.

Last Thursday, the department cancelled all PSSA testing and Keystone exams for the 2019-20 school year, as well as the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA). The U.S. Department of Education approved Pennsylvania’s waiver request the following day, and further waived accountability and reporting requirements for the 2019-20 school year.

Rivera said that, during the extended closure, the state's 29 intermediate units will provide technical assistance to help develop education plans for all students.

"We know students are eager to engage with their teachers and return to learning," he said in a news release. "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."

Officials said Monday that the school shutdown could be extended beyond April 6 "if necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19."

Rivera said that when officials decide school may resume, administrators, teachers and other staff will be given two days to prepare classrooms, set up cafeterias, schedule transportation and arrange other business. Students would return on the third day, he said.

>>>Full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania here.