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THE DECISION. >> -- MADELEINE: SUMMER BREAK FEELS A LITTLE CLOSER FOR STUDENTS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA. GOVERNOR MCMASTER ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT K-12 SCHOOLS IN SOUTH -- IN THE STATE WILL REMAIN CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? >> IT MAKES ME FEEL GLAD. MADELEINE: WHY? >> BECAUSE I GET TO STAY WITH MY FAMILY. MADELEINE: YEAH! >> AND NOT DO ANY SCHOOL WORK, WELL, I HAVE TO DO SOME SCHOOL WORK AT HOME. MADELEINE: CONRAD’S NOT WRONG. STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES FROM HOME. AS SCHOOL’S ACROSS THE STATE ATTEMPT SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. >> I THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA THAT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO CALL IT QUITS FOR END OF SCHOOL YEAR. BECAUSE HOW MANY MORE WEEKS ARE LEFT OF IT ANYWAY? I DON’T THINK IT’S WORTH RUNNING THE RISK. >> IT’S BETTER TO HAVE THEM AT HOME SAFE. MADELEINE: KINDERGARDEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TOUCHES ALL GRADE LEVELS, PARTICULARLY SAD THOUG FOR SENIORS, WHO NOW MUST FINISH OUT THEIR FINAL YEAR AWAY FROM THEIR PEERS. >> WE KNOW IT’S BEEN DIFFICULT. WE KNOW PARTICULARLY WITH THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK AND CHILDREN ALL AT HOME AT TIMES WHEN IT WAS NOT EXPECTED, THAT THIS HAS BEEN A HARDSHIP AND A CHALLENGE ON

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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced Wednesday that all public K-12 schools will remain closed through the rest of the school year. (Watch full news conference below)The governor has already called for colleges and universities in the state to stay virtual for the rest of this term, and several have announced plans for delayed or virtual commencement exercises for graduating students.In mid-March McMaster initially closed public schools for the remainder of that month, setting into motion an e-learning program new to most students and teachers across the state. Food centers and delivery options were set up for students reliant on food provided in schools, as well as any others in need, and hundreds of the state’s school buses were equipped with Wi-Fi to serve as hotspots for students without internet access at home.Other headlines from news conference: Last day of e-learning will be up to the districts. Flexibility given to schools so seniors may still be able to partake in some sort of graduation ceremony/walk."We are working to find ways to help students with special needs & working on potential summer options," McMaster said. Districts will work with students to pick up things that were left at school. Greenville County schools sends message about schools remaining closed for the year On Monday Spearman described the e-learning that has now been in place for six weeks as “going well.”“I can’t say thank you enough to the teachers and the parents and the students for all the great work you have done,” Spearman said. It has been difficult on all of us. I think everyone is stressed out. I think the month of April probably felt like two or three years for some of us.”Spearman said there are some students they have not heard from and she asked the students and parents to reach out to their teachers.“You’re not just going to get a grade because we are out of school,” Spearman told WIS-TV. “You need to do your work and you need to try to do your best.” Related: S.C. Dept. of Education releases guidelines on grading, virtual learning and graduationSpearman acknowledged that some students have not done well with distant learning, specifically special needs students. She said they are looking at how best to accommodate those students during this time. Additional coronavirus resources: Tracking COVID-19 curve of cases, deaths in the Carolinas, Georgia Latest update on coronavirus cases, latest headlines in Carolinas, Georgia COVID-19 maps of Carolinas, Georgia: Latest coronavirus cases by countyThe Associated Press contributed to this story.