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TOPEKA, Kan. (WDAF) – Governor Laura Kelly has announced all public schools will stop meeting in person, switching to digital classes for the rest of the school year in a sweeping response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am ordering all K-12 to close and cease in-person instruction for the duration of the 2019-2020 semester,” Gov. Kelly said.
Kansas is the first state to close schools for the rest of the year, and California is likely to follow. Virginia and North Carolina schools are closed through at least March 27.
Virginia colleges have switched to online learning in the meantime, with Old Dominion and Norfolk State doing so through the end of the semester. On Tuesday the head of Virginia’s community colleges announced all May commencement ceremonies would be canceled.
Regent University in Virginia Beach also announced Tuesday their commencement ceremonies will be moving online.
The announcement in Kansas comes after multiple school districts in the Kansas City metro had announced extended spring breaks lasting through Friday, April 3. Those on the Kansas side will now be faced with extended online classwork lasting until the summer.
“The steps we’re announcing today will create the space we need at the state level… so that we can get ahead of this threat and limit its long term impact,” Kelly said.
The decision was announced in the wake of several new cases in Kansas on March 17. There were 17 positive cases in the state at the time of the announcement.
“Closing classrooms and moving to this continuous learning plan… can in no way replicate the great learning that goes on in our world-class schools,” Dr. Randy Watson, Commissioner for the Kansas State Department of Education, said. He also said resources will be provided to public and private schools for online learning going forward.
The Kansas House also approved a bill that would give jobless workers an additional 10 weeks of unemployment benefits.
