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This page offers all of Delaware Public Media's ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it is affecting the First State. Check here regularly for the latest new and information.

Gov. Carney continues to weigh closing schools for rest of academic year

Delaware Public Media

While admitting Thursday that Delaware schools will likely stay closed for the remainder of the academic year, Gov. JohnCarney says it’s not an easy call to make.

 

 

Right now, all Delaware schools are closed until May 15 and students are learning remotely from home.

Should that continue through June, Carney says there will be consequences.

"We're going to need to think about what kind of activities, what kind of instructional programs they can activate over the summer,' said Carney. "What are they going to do at the beginning of next year with respect to the need for remediation in some of their math curriculum that they didn't get to or they're going to have to help the children and students catch up."

And Carney acknowledges considering how to plan for such things is one argument for making the decision sooner rather than later.

"Part of the rationale of those who'd like me to say the schools are going to be closed for the rest of the year is so that they can start planning and thinking about that," said Carney "I understand that and that's a reasonable consideration."

Before a final decision is made, Carney adds the state will consult with school districts, including about advancing students from one grade level to the next. 

"We're going to be asking them for their plans to do that," said Carney. "Obviously there are standards that are in place so that the students need to know and be able to do with respect to English, language arts, social studies, science, math."

Already 27 states nationally have closed for the rest of the year, including Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Like Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland have not made their decision yet. 

 

Joe brings over 20 years of experience in news and radio to Delaware Public Media and the All Things Considered host position. He joined DPM in November 2019 as a reporter and fill-in ATC host after six years as a reporter and anchor at commercial radio stations in New Castle and Sussex Counties.
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