The number of coronavirus cases in Michigan now exceeds 10,000. On Thursday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order closing all K-12 schools for the rest of the year.
Saying she doesn’t make the decision lightly, Whitmer extended the cancellation of all face-to-face classes through the end of the school year.
Her decision affects 1.5 million students who’ve already been home from school since March 16.
The governor says local school districts must now create distance learning programs tailored to their own students.
“Each district must develop an alternative learning plan for students to continue their education during this time,” says Whitmer. “The plans will be locally driven and reflect the best interest of the kids in their communities.”
Whitmer says its incumbent on school administrators to ensure students have access to personal learning devices.
However, she says families who don’t have access to online resources will not be penalized.