Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered the state’s K-12 schools to close for the next two weeks starting Tuesday as the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise and spread to more counties across the state.

Wolf made the announcement Monday afternoon with additional stay-at-home orders in Philadelphia and its suburbs, Allegheny County and Monroe County. But schools across all of Pennsylvania will be closed until at least April 6, Wolf said.

The closure order could be extended beyond April 6 if necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from the state Department of Education.

When it’s determined students can return to school, administrators, teachers and other staff will be given two days to prepare classrooms, set up cafeterias, schedule transportation and arrange other business operations. Students would return on the third day.

Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said, “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.

“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.”

On March 13, Wolf ordered all K-12 schools to close for two weeks over COVID-19 concerns. At the time, he indicated that decision would be re-evaluated to decide whether continued closure would be needed near the end of the two-week closure. He also announced at the time that districts would not face penalties for failing to meet the state’s 180 instructional day mandate.

To assist schools during the extended closure, Rivera said the state’s 29 intermediate units are ready to provide technical assistance to help develop continuity of education plans for all students.

“We know students are eager to engage with their teachers and return to learning,” Rivera said. “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.”

Further, Rivera announced on Thursday that the state exams would be cancelled for the 2019-20 school year. PSSA testing administered in grades three through eight was scheduled to begin April 20. Keystone testing for high school students was scheduled to begin May 11. He said the department was submitting a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education to gain its blessing from this federal school accountability mandate that also would apply to the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment. The federal education department approved the waiver request on Friday.

Other states have taken similar action to try to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly was the first in the nation to order the closure of K-12 schools in her state for the remainder of the school year.

A majority of states thus far have closed schools until the end of March or early April. In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee ordered schools to close for six weeks, while New Jersey’s Gov. Phil Murphy put no end date for lifting his school closing order.

The closure of public schools has provided an enormous challenge for public school systems. Schools are scrambling to provide meals for those students from low-income families who depend on them.

In addition, school leaders have also been working to figure out how to deliver an appropriate education remotely. School systems are also grappling with how to serve kids that may not have their own computers or access to internet service at home.

* This post has been updated to clarify when the length of the governor’s school closure order.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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