Schools
Coronavirus In RI: Raimondo Closes Schools For Rest Of Year
Rhode Island schools will continue distance learning for the remainder of the school year.
PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island students will not not return to school this academic year, Gov. Gina Raimondo confirmed Thursday. Distance learning will continue until the end of the year, she said.
"I have decided that we need to continue distance learning, K-12 in public schools, through the end of the school year," Raimondo said.
The decision was made because the number of cases are still on the rise in the state, Raimondo said, adding that she wished she could have allowed students back into classrooms for the last few weeks of school.
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"The data doesn't support it. To take that much risk, for the last few weeks of traditional school, would be irresponsible," she continued. "I've talked to most superintendents, if not all, consulted with the mayor, teachers, teacher leaders, parent groups. ... The consensus recommendation through all of those discussions is that we have to do distance learning through the rest of the school year."
Raimondo's announcement came hours after reports leaked the she decided not to send kids back to school before the end of the year. The decision comes just two days after Gov. Charlie Baker announced that Massachusetts schools would not reopen this academic year. Rhode Island joins 39 other states in choosing to keep schools closed for the remainder of the year.
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The governor acknowledged that distance learning is difficult for students, teachers and families, especially for students with differing abilities. While not a perfect system, she said, it has been going very well, with Rhode Island among the best states in the country in terms of success.
"When this gets tough, remind yourself of how unprecedented this is," Raimondo said.
Raimondo also praised the engagement level of students, saying there has been more than 90 percent participation nearly every day.
Parents who need help with distance learning can now call the Highlander Institute's distance learning hotline at 904-414-4927 for assistance. The service has been available to teachers since late March, and was expanded to parents, as well.
Rhode Island schools have been closed since March 16.
In a special message to high school seniors, Raimondo apologized for the loss of traditional proms, graduations and other last-semester rites of passage. The Rhode Island Department of Education will offer guidelines and recommendations to districts of ways to creatively celebrate.
"This is a bummer. There is no other way for me to say it. And I'm sorry," she said. "This was your senior year. You were going to be the captain of your sports team, go to your proms, have your spring flings. ... Now all of a sudden coronavirus comes along, and I am telling you that you are stuck in your house for learning, and everything's going to be different. ... Proms, traditional proms like we've had, and traditional graduations are not going to be possible this spring."
Later this spring, Rhode Island PBS, statewide graduation special, featuring musical performances, special messages and contributions from students themselves.
Raimondo also asked all seniors to take the time to fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid. So far, 60 percent of the Class of 2020 has completed their application, putting Rhode Island in fourth place nationwide. Earlier this week, the College Crusade announced that it would be extending assistance to all seniors in the state starting in mid-May.
Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green echoed the governor's sentiments, saying the decision to keep schools closed was not one that was made lightly. The department of education will create a statewide calendar for the remainder of the school year, with the latest end date on June 18. Some schools will end before this, she said, if they started earlier than others.
One of the biggest concerns with keeping schools closed but beginning to reopen the economy has been that of child care ,especially for younger children. Raimondo said she has been talking with bsuiness leaders and employers about options, and will have more guidance in the coming days. Summer programs will happen in some capacity, she added, with guidelines that will come at a later date.
Patch Editor Scott Souza contributed to this report.
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