FREE ACCESS: K-12 schools closed through end of school year

All Indiana K-12 schools will remain closed through the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

Linton-Stockton School Corporation, Shakamak Jr./Sr. High School, Dugger Union School Corporation, Eastern Greene School Corporation, Bloomfield School District and White River Valley School Corporation are among them.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb went live Thursday afternoon to update Hoosiers on COVID-19.

With over 3,000 people testing positive for COVID-19 in Indiana, officials said, it would take a collective effort.

“The last thing we want to do is kid ourselves about our kids’ health and safety,” Holcomb said.

He turned the update over to Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, who began by thanking healthcare workers, educators, parents and students.

She then delivered a much-awaited update on public education.

“Graduates, our goal is to get you across that stage,” McCormick said. “I know you’re sacrificing a lot of things you were looking forward to in your senior year.”

March 19, the governor directed schools to close through to at least May 1.

On Thursday, that was extended to the end of the school year. However, schools will have to continue to teach students remotely.

Any credits Class of 2020 students are enrolled in will count toward their required credits. Any required exams, which are not being offered, will be waived. The state of Indiana has been granted waivers for ISTEP10, ILEARN, IREAD-3 and other state assessments.

Schools are still required to either provide at least 160 days of instruction, per the 20-day waiver granted by Holcomb, or at least 20 days of remote instruction between now and the end of the school year.

According to the executive order, all K-12 schools, whether public or charter, are required to submit completion plans to the Indiana Department of Education by April 17. This can include “e-Learning, extended learning, project-based or portfolio learning, competency-based learning, partnerships with higher education for increased student supports or other similar methods.”

The IDOE must approve these plans and superintendents must certify their corporation’s number of student instruction days no later than June 15.

McCormick also made announcements concerning teacher licenses and other matters. Executive order 20-16 is available at www.in.gov for reading.

McCormick said public schools will soon get in touch with parents and students to provide further information.