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THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP DURING THIS TIME. AFTER EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND MEETING PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS IN THE STATE, I AM EXTENDING THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS THROUGH MAY 15. WITH REGARDS TO THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THE SUMMER, WE WILL USE THIS TIME TO EXAMINE EVERY OPTION AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR RECOVERY. IN A SHORT TIMEFRAME, SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASETHEIR DIGITAL PRESENCE AND CAPABILITIES TO PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL STUDENTS. ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS MUST SUBMIT THESE CONTINUITY AND LEARNING PLANS TO THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR REVIEW. THESE PLANS INCLUDE AN OVERALL DESCRIPTION OF HOW STUDENTS OR HOW SYSTEMS WILL -- SORRY -- HOW SYSTEMS WILL DELIVER CONTINUITY OF LEARNING TO STUDENTS. A DISRUPTION OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DISTRICT STAFF. STUDENTS, AND PARENTS. A SAMPLE TEACHER, AND SAMPLE STUDENT DAY. A PLAN ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. AND A DESCRIPTION OF HOW SCHOOL SYSTEM PLANS TO ADDRESS EQUITY FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS, STUDENTS WITH ACADEMIC NEEDS AND HOMELESS STUDENTS. THERE IS ALSO A SECTION THAT IDENTIFIES THE PROFESSIONAL ELEMENT PLAN FOR THE STAFF AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE RESOURCES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS. WE ARE HELPING THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES, SUCH AS ADDITIONAL DEVICES, PLATFORMS FOR LEARNING AND EXPANDED BROADBAND CAPABILITIES, THAT THEY NEED TO CARRY OUT THEIR PLANS IN EQUITABLE AND MEANINGFUL WAYS. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE ADDITIONAL $207 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL CARES ACT AND -- 90% OF WHICH WILL GO TO LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS, WILL HELP ADDRESS GAPS IN THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE RESOURCES. AFTER SPEAKING WITH LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS THIS WEEK, SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE STARTED TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL, DIGITAL LEARNING AND THE RECOVERY OF ANY LOST INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, IN THE FORM OF PLANNING EXPANDED SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. STATE AND LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING FOR A NUMBER OF SCENARIOS, DEPENDING ON WHEN OUR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO REENTER SCHOOL BUILDINGS. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE SITUATION. IT HAS CREATED MUCH ANXIETY ACROSS OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR GROUPS LIKE OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. WE WANT SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THEIR WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THEIR TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMAS. I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A NUMBER OF CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES T

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Maryland public schools will remain closed until at least May 15, Superintendent Karen Salmon announced Friday afternoon. || Coronavirus updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Rumor Control ||"After extensive consultation with the State Board of Education and leading public health experts in the state, I am extending the closure of schools through May 15," Salmon said. "With regards to the remainder of the school year and the summer, we will use this time to examine every option, and continue to develop a long-term plan for recovery."This school closure extension affects almost 1 million Maryland students and thousands of teachers. Salmon said her team will use the time to decide what happens between May 15 and June 15, which is the end of the academic year for most jurisdictions in Maryland.She acknowledged how challenging this has been for the adults, while Gov. Larry Hogan, who is also a grandfather to four children, touched on how tough this has been for Maryland's children."This has really been the toughest time that many of us have ever been through, but it is perhaps most difficult for our young children who are trying to understand what's happening in our state and in our country and in our world," Hogan said.Maryland school students have been out of school for five weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic. Maryland closed all public schools on March 16, and lessons were sent home in packets and online.Late last month, state schools Superintendent Karen Salmon announced that schools would remain closed until at least April 24."I feel that this is one of those decisions that we need to make incrementally to see where we are in another month," Salmon said. "We don't know what's going to happen, and I certainly don't want to dash the hopes of many children and parents.""I have four young grandkids myself, and not a day goes by that I don't think about them and about all of the young children here in Maryland. Not only have their lives been disrupted, but it's especially confusing and frightening for them right now," Hogan said.Salmon said all options remain on the table moving forward, including an extension of the school year and using summer school to make up weeks of lost instruction.Parents find themselves overseeing distance learning for four more weeksStudents across the state have found ways to include outdoor activities as a part of their virtual learning. It's all under the watchful eye of parents who now must make plans for an even longer stay at home.Baltimore County parent George Kennedy said it's all about weighing the options."I think everyone would prefer that people stay healthy and safe, so if that's what it takes, it's OK. I mean, obviously, it's not ideal, but most of us are working from home these days, so we're doing the best we can," Kennedy said.Teachers preparing lessons from home for their students and children are prepared to make the adjustment."We know it's the right decision. When we are faced with this health crisis, it means that our educators, students and parents will continue with the distance learning," said Cheryl Bost, president of the Maryland State Education Association."After speaking with local superintendents this past week, school systems have also started to develop plans for additional digital learning and the recovery of any lost instructional time in the form of expanding summer school programs," Salmon said Friday.School systems have been working to get learning packets to students. The following are links by county in the Baltimore-area for online-learning resources:Anne Arundel CountyBaltimore CityBaltimore CountyCarroll CountyHarford CountyHoward CountyEven before Friday's announcement, Salmon told lawmakers to expect distance learning to continue into the fall, and possibly the winter. Salmon supports using new federal coronavirus stimulus funding to help expand distance learning for students. "We still need to work out to make sure all students and educators have access to the technology and the ability to do distance learning, so this gives us more time to figure out those glitches and make sure we have equity for all of those students," Bost said. Students looking forward to graduation feel like they're missing outNow, with an additional four weeks of learning at home, a number of school systems have already decided how students will be graded for the remainder of this semester. Others have made critical decisions affecting the graduating class of 2020.MORE: Anne Arundel County Schools announce changes to graduation requirements"I think whether we are closed for a short period time again or the long haul, we know that our students are going to be in school at least up until 175 to 180 days. So that will continue through distance learning, whether it's short closure or a long closure," Bost said.The school closure has been hard for all students, but those last few weeks of being a high school senior can bring many joys -- and the coronavirus Class of 2020 is taking a hit.Olivia Harris is a senior at Hammond High School in Howard County. Many of the celebrations she was looking forward to are not going to happen."(I'm) kind of sad about it. Tomorrow was supposed to be my prom. It got canceled. Graduation is canceled. It's sad to think about. I've been working for 12 years. I will still graduate, but won't get the same ceremony a lot of people look forward to," Harris said.Her swim season is over, and she has missed that, too, not to mention being away from friends."I miss my friends, mostly. I'm so used to being around everyone all the time. Whether swimming or school, it's a stark contrast to not seeing anybody in person," Harris said.McDonogh School senior Liv Geoghan stays centered by going for runs and practicing lacrosse, even though her senior season didn't happen."I've been at McDonogh for 13 years. I've been looking forward to graduation and my senior lacrosse season and senior day. I had a senior day for field hockey, and I was looking forward to a senior day for lacrosse, and that not happening is pretty disappointing," Geoghan said."This is her prom dress. (We're) not sure she'll be able to wear it. We'll have a little prom for her here," said Geoghan's mother, Kelly Geoghan.Kelly Geoghan said they're still waiting on the final word about graduation."Graduation is exciting, and proms are exciting and graduation parties, and we just we don't know what to expect," Kelly Geoghan said.Liv Geoghan said she has accepted the changes and has this message for her follow coronavirus classmates."Stay positive. That's kind of what I've been trying to do. Yes, it sucks. We don't get to experience everything as a normal class, but I think our class is special just to stay positive," she said.Both Harris and Liv Geoghan have college ahead of them, but that's even that is up in the air as schools figure out what a fall semester at college will look like.Governor outlines priorities to achieve before reopening can beginThe governor said he's starting to see hopeful and encouraging signs that the state could start laying the groundwork to reopen -- but, as he noted, as soon as it's safe to do so.Hogan said first and foremost, in order to start reopening, the state needs to see a big decline in three specific numbers:The number of people going to the hospital for the coronavirusThe number of those patients then going to the intensive-care unitThe number of deathsIf those numbers are on the decline for 14 days, then, the governor said, the state can proceed to the next phase, but we're not there yet.Watch the governor's press conference in its entirety:The governor said the state's recovery plan has four building blocks that must be in place before they start lifting restrictions:Expanding testing capacityIncreasing hospital surge capacityIncreasing supply of PPERobust contact tracing operationThe governor said there has been significant progress on the criteria, and he plans to give an update on his plan, "Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery," some time next week.Other priorities include the following:FACEMASK ORDER: The governor reminds Marylanders that beginning Saturday morning, face coverings will be required inside retail establishments statewide and when riding public transportation: "This isn't just about protecting yourself, it is about protecting your neighbor."COVID-19 LAYOFF AVERSION FUND: The governor announced $8 million has been provided to 410 small businesses, which he said has helped more than 9,000 Marylanders keep their jobs.MANUFACTURING GRANTS: The governor announced grants for three businesses to manufacture personal protective equipment:DVF Corporation (Washington County) to make parts for respiratorsAwesome Ninja Labs (Baltimore City) to make face shieldsNRL & Associates (Queen Anne's County) to ramp up ventilator productionPAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM: Through PPP, the Maryland Department of Commerce approved $3.8 billion in loans to assist nearly 12,000 Maryland businesses.The Maryland Department of Labor is launching a new one-stop shop for a comprehensive online application for independent contractors, self-employed Marylanders and all other types of claims, including federal employees, multi-state wage claims and military. The governor said this will ensure that every Maryland application will have the option of filing online, which will dramatically decrease call wait times and help Marylanders receive their benefits faster.FOOD BANKS: The governor announced a state investment of $4 million to the Maryland Food Bank and the Capital Area Food Bank. This will be matched by local jurisdictions for a total commitment of $8 million.SNAP BENEFITS: The Maryland Department of Human Services is working to accelerate implementation of the state's online SNAP pilot program, which the governor said will give families in need the opportunity to purchase meals online and have them delivered at no cost. Hogan said Shop-Rite and Amazon have committed to waiving delivery fees to help make the initiative successful.