Public schools across the state will continue remote instruction through the remainder of the school year, Governor Roy Cooper announced Friday.
The state plans to reopen traditional schools in the fall, Cooper said. Procedures for summer schooling efforts, including year-round schools and summer camps, will depend on how the COVID-19 pandemic evolves in the coming months.
Cooper said he understands the stress these changes may cause for parents and children, but the decision to continue remote schooling provides crucial protection for the health of North Carolina's students.
“It’s such a confusing time to be a child, and it’s a hard time to be a parent, especially a working parent,” Cooper said.
Although the state-mandated period of remote instruction does not extend to private schools, Cooper said he hoped private school administrations would keep in mind statewide social distancing guidance as they considered when to reopen.
“We hope that they are following guidelines that have been provided by the Department of Health and Human Services," Cooper said.
Eric Davis, chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education, said the support of “first-responder” teachers has been and will continue to be crucial to ensuring student success in remote learning environments.
"Never in our history have collaboration and teamwork been more important," Davis said.
Davis said school employees, including teachers, will continue to be paid for the work they do until the end of the scheduled school year.
