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WGAL NEWS 8’S SUSAN SHAPIRO HAS THE LATEST. >> SIGNS LIKE THIS WILL NOW STAY UP AT SCHOOLS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. SCHOOLS LIKE WHEATLAND HERE IN THIS GLITTERY OF LANCASTER ARE CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. >> IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE. >> THE GOVERNOR SAID ON FACEBOOK THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES. HE SAID TEACHING AND LEARNING WILL CONTINUE. >> THIS VIRUS HAS NOT STOPPED YOU FROM HELPING YOUR CHILDREN TO SAFELY LEARN, GROW AND KNOW THEY ARE CARED ABOUT EVERY DAY. >> I THINK IT WAS A PRETTY SMART DECISION BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE THAT IS GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON. I THINK BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. >> A LANCASTER CITY POLICE OFFICER IS HOME WITH HER YOUNG DAUGHTER WHEN SHE IS NOT AT WORK. SHE SAYS JANE MISSES HER FRIENDS IN PRE SCHOOL BUT SHE IS YOUNG ENOUGH THAT SHE IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HER FALLING BEHIND. BUT THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT OLDER STUDENTS FALLING BEHIND AND JUST HOW THEY WILL BE EVALUATED. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WANT TO USE THEM ALONG WITH TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT AND PAPER LESSONS. IT SAYS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEED

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Pennsylvania schools will be closed for the rest of this academic year because of the coronavirus pandemic.The following message was posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website:"Under Governor Wolf's directive, all schools in Pennsylvania are closed until the end of their academic year. This includes: public K-12 schools, brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and technical centers (CTCs), intermediate units (IUs); and childcare centers operating within any of the aforementioned; educational programming for students in non-educational placements such as residential settings (boarding schools), residential facilities, detention centers, and hospital settings; PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start Programs and Preschool Early Intervention programs/services; and Private Academic Nursery Schools and locally funded prekindergarten activities. Additionally, postsecondary institutions have suspended in-person instruction and non-essential services."Here is the full statement from the governor's office:"Continuing his efforts to protect the health and safety of students and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tom Wolf today announced that all schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. The governor made the decision in consultation with Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera. Students and families can continue to pick up meals at designated sites. "Although schools are closed, teaching and learning may continue: schools are strongly encouraged to provide continuity of education for all students in the most appropriate and accessible ways possible. PDE has secured resources intended to help all schools that want to use them – including those not currently offering online platforms, those requiring additional technology support, and those that may rely on traditional methods, such as paper lessons, to continue educating students. There is no cost to schools or students for these resources.“'We must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus during this national crisis,'” Governor Wolf said. “'This was not an easy decision but closing schools until the end of the academic year is in the best interest of our students, school employees and families.'”"Secretary Rivera said the administration’s primary consideration has always been to make the best decision in the context of student and community health and safety.“'While the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic and its mitigation efforts have created uncertainty in our schools and communities, today’s action to close schools for the remainder of the academic year provides school communities with predictability and understanding of the conditions under which they’ll be operating and serving students,'” Rivera said. “'As schools and communities adapt to the prolonged school closure, PDE will continue to work with our state, educational, and business and nonprofit partners to meet the needs of students.'”"Today’s decision applies to all public K-12 schools, brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and technical centers and intermediate units. All Department of Education early learning program classrooms, including those for Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) and Preschool Early Intervention, will also remain closed."Colleges and universities may not resume in-person instruction or reopen their physical locations until the governor permits them to open or lifts the closure of non-life-sustaining businesses."Schools will remain closed though the end of the 2019-2020 academic year as it is defined by the local school calendar."Under the state’s directive, schools could begin summer programming on the day after their academic year ends."Secretary Rivera added that all re-openings will be contingent on public health guidance provided by the Secretary of Health and stay-at-home orders issued by the governor."In addition to the school closure announcement, through his order Secretary Rivera also took action that will ensure crucial stability of education programs. Under Act 13 of 2020, the secretary has exercised his executive authority to adjust requirements for the evaluation of professional employees and waive student teaching requirements that may not be possible in the context of school closures. “'By taking these actions, the department is providing flexibility in the near term, while signaling that core functions of public education can and will continue,'” he said."The department has been providing ongoing guidance to school communities in the form of FAQs. The guidance information is available at education.pa.gov/COVID19."For more information about Pennsylvania’s education policies and programs please visit the Department of Education’s website or follow PDE on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest."Stay with WGAL for updates on this breaking story.