While many Alabama lawmakers are looking for a way to reopen businesses soon and get the economy moving, the state’s schools will stay closed.

“There has been no discussion about reopening schools this spring,” Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey wrote to AL.com. “We are looking at best options for summer programming and, of course, re-opening in the fall.”

Related: Alabama schools chief worried about mental health, meals, internet access for students

In an interview on AL.com’s Facebook live on April 16, Mackey spoke about what might be in store for the next school year, which typically starts in August. That includes using new state tests, which were scheduled to debut this month, to determine where students are and what kind of help they may need getting back up to speed.

"We're going to experience learning loss," Mackey said, acknowledging every long absence, like traditional summer breaks, result in some students losing some of what they learned during the school year.

State superintendent of education Eric Mackey joins AL.com to talk about expectations, at-home learning, and more State superintendent of education Eric Mackey joins AL.com to talk about his expectations, at-home learning, and what he’s seen happen in the schools during the COVID pandemic. Posted by al.com on Thursday, April 16, 2020

Alabama's 1,400 schools have been closed since mid-March and Gov. Kay Ivey's declared all teaching must be done some other way than face-to-face.

Ivey, during a press conference this morning, re-emphasized the state's stay-at-home order is still in place until April 30. Governors in Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia announced yesterday plans to begin reopening in phases, with Georgia reopening some businesses as soon as Friday.

In Alabama, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, backed by several lawmakers, last week presented a phased plan to reopen much of the economy now. Ivey said that plan is being taken under consideration. But Ivey said the state needs to increase testing for COVID-19 and to see a steady decrease in new cases over 14 days before reopening. "Until we get enough testing done, we can't fully reopen the economy," said Ivey this morning.

With schools remaining closed for the year, Mackey has told the state board that he has three big concerns: mental health, school meals and internet access for student learning.

He told AL.com last week that he has been especially concerned with Internet access. Schools had just over two weeks to transition from in-classroom to distance learning, and some made the transition easier than others.

Related: Learning lessons: How Alabama schools are adjusting to remote learning

Some districts, like Mobile County and Huntsville City, are able to broadcast lessons taught by local teachers through local television stations.

We are ready for another great day of learning with our LIVE Lessons. You can watch them LIVE on our Facebook page, on mcpssTV, and on Fox10.6, as we start with Pre-K at 7:30 a.m. and then focus on middle and high school reading and math. #LearningLeading pic.twitter.com/q5ZSDc1qKv — MobilePublicSchools (@MobilePublicSch) April 21, 2020

In areas where high-speed internet and devices are available for students, lessons mostly moved online.

And in at least one district, Selma City Schools, instructional packets were delivered to the local grocery store, where parents knew to find them.

Copies of home learning instructional activities for scholars are now available at Winn Dixie and Food Outlet. THANK YOU to Mr.

Donny, Winn Dixie manager, and Mr. Watts, Food Outlet manager for your support! #TeamSelmaConnected pic.twitter.com/a75JfGf2Ow — Selma City Schools (@SelmaSchools) April 6, 2020

Parents have struggled to make the transition, overseeing their child's education while also juggling work schedules.

Related: Here’s how Alabama parents teach during the pandemic

At least one parent opted out of school for her first-grader, writing to her child’s teacher, "‘We love you. You’re amazing. We respect you. This has absolutely nothing to do with you or what we think about your school. But no, we’re not participating,’” UAB Professor Sarah Parcak told AL.com. “I am going to create a life for my family that works for us in this crisis. That life does not involve forcing us to be his first-grade teachers.”

And then there are the state's high school seniors, the class of 2020, whose senior year was cut short. No proms, no graduations, no softball or baseball, no awards day or any of the other fun marking the passage into a new world of college or work.

Related: Hey, Alabama Class of 2020, leave your mark on history

"I really do feel terrible for those folks, especially the senior class, who has lost those types of things," Mackey said during the interview.

As Alabama schools end meal programs, burden shifts to food banks

Alabama school district restarts student meals after legal action filed

One Alabama county relies on army of volunteers to keep feeding children

Alabama space archaeologist Sarah Parcak on parenting during COVID-19: ‘What do we want children to get out of this?’