Schools will stay closed

Students in Indiana will not return to their classrooms for the 2019-20 school year.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick announced this afternoon that schools will not reopen and that corporations are expected to deliver "remote instruction" for the remainder of the school year.

It marks the latest step Indiana has taken in its effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus. As of today’s update, the state had 3,039 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 78 deaths related to the disease.

Schools must provide instruction for a total of 160 days — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb previously issued a 20-day waiver — or complete at least 20 days of remote learning from today through the end of the school year.

Jay School Corporation had already been making use of e-learning and waiver days on an every-other-day basis anticipating the possibility that schools would not return to session.

Indiana Department of Education will require school corporations to submit a “continuous learning plan” by April 17 that details how they will move forward and sets guidelines for staff to follow.

“Our goal, given this difficult situation, is to make sure that students have some type of continuous learning,” said McCormick.

For the Class of 2020, anyone who totals enough credits between those already earned and those they are enrolled for this semester will be allowed to graduate. Exams that are typically required for graduation have been waived.

“Graduates, our goal is to get you across that stage,” McCormick said.

The state also extended teacher licenses through Sept. 1.

“I know the news I deliver today for some of you is not the news you have been looking for, but again, all of us have to do our part,” said McCormick. “I appreciate the support from educators. We appreciate the support from families.”