Gov. Murphy Casts Doubt On NJ Graduations Due To Coronavirus

NEW JERSEY — Parents and students who are making plans for big graduation celebrations in June should hold off on for now, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday, because there's no guarantee the coronavirus outbreak will let up any time soon.

Murphy addressed the issue during his almost-daily news conference on the status of the state's efforts to deal with the virus. There are more than 44,000 cases of the virus, and 1,232 people have died from it as of Tuesday. Among actions he announced was one waiving assessment test graduation requirements for high school seniors.

As for whether school districts will hold ceremonies, Murphy said it's hard to say what will happen. Schools across the state are closed indefinitely under his March 18 executive order shutting them down.

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"I wouldn't put any nonrefundable checks down on your celebrations right now," he said. "It's hard to say otherwise. I'm hope I'm wrong but I fear that I am not."

The question about graduations looms larger as the coronavirus shutdowns stretch on. Murphy on Tuesday also extended the public health emergency stay-at-home order to May 7, as officials continue to urge social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Health officials have said it's unclear when the outbreak will subside enough to make a return to work and school possible.

School districts around the state have been peppered by parents and students about graduations, one of the biggest rites of passage for students as they move from childhood to adulthood. So far, no districts have announced decisions on how they might proceed.

In Toms River, the district moved last week to shorten its spring break to a four-day weekend running from Good Friday and through Monday, and shorten the school year as a result. That set off angry debates on social media about graduation plans and demands that the district ensure students have these moments in a school year that has been upended by the virus.

In a letter to the school district's families, Superintendent David Healy said the district is looking at all possibilities to ensure students get to experience them.

"This office has received significant and valued feedback from our (high school) seniors regarding the status of momentous events such as prom and graduation," Healy said. "Please rest assured that if these once-in-a-lifetime occasions cannot take place on the dates originally scheduled, this office will be working with our Board of Education, school leaders and others to reasonably ensure that they are rescheduled at a later date."

State Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet said graduation "is a local decision" of each school district.

"Whatever activity they plan, we just hope they follow the guidelines on social distancing," Repollet said.

Rescheduling will take some finesse. The window between high school graduation and the beginning of college can be very short for students who are continuing their educations, and even shorter for those who enlist in the military or follow other work opportunities.

For eighth-grade promotion ceremonies it's less complicated because they are in most cases remaining in the area to proceed to high school.

"My/our focus is always children and we never lose sight of that," Healy said in an email Tuesday afternoon. "Decisions are always made in the best interest of children and this includes those regarding momentous once-in-a-lifetime developmental events that are not only fond memories but important milestones in the social and emotional development of our children."

Murphy did remove one obstacle for both eighth-graders and high school seniors with his order waiving the assessment tests.

New Jersey's high school graduation requirements for the class of 2020 had required that seniors achieve a minimum score on the state's assessement tests; students who did not would have to apply for permission to graduate through a portfolio process.

In addition, eighth-graders were required to take a statewide assessment to ensure they were making progress toward mastery of graduation proficiency standards.

Murphy waived both requirements because of the ongoing coronavirus crisis where students across the state are continuing their education at home.

"As a state, we must continue to adapt to the new reality that COVID-19 has created in our state, a task that our students and educators are navigating every day," Murphy said. "The waiver of these student assessment requirements will ensure that no student is left behind or unduly penalized due to these extraordinary circumstances."

About 13,000 students were expected to submit portfolio appeals this year, state officials said.

Murphy's order also prohibits the use of student growth data as an evaluation tool for educators and waives the statutory requirement of three observations and evaluations for all non-tenured teaching staff for the 2019-2020 school year.

"Governor Murphy’s action establishes a rational, responsible and fair approach to eliminate disruptions faced by school students and staff," Repollet said. "By clearing the pathway of obstacles, it allows schools to maintain their focus on providing critical education services to students."

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