Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that all schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.

He made the decision in consultation with Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera.

“We must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus during this national crisis,” said Gov. Wolf. “This was not an easy decision but closing schools until the end of the academic year is in the best interest of our students, school employees, and families.”

Secretary Rivera said the administration’s primary consideration has always been to make the best decision in the context of student and community health and safety.

“While the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic and its mitigation efforts have created uncertainty in our schools and communities, today’s action to close schools for the remainder of the academic year provides school communities with predictability and understanding of the conditions under which they’ll be operating and serving students,” he said. “As schools and communities adapt to the prolonged school closure, PDE will continue to work with our state, educational, and business and nonprofit partners to meet the needs of students.”

Today’s decision applies to all public K-12 schools, brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and technical centers, and intermediate units. All Department of Education early learning program classrooms – including those for Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP), and Preschool Early Intervention – will also remain closed.

Colleges and universities may not resume in-person instruction or reopen their physical locations until the governor permits them to open or lifts the closure of non-life-sustaining businesses.

Under the state’s directive, schools could begin summer programming on the day after their academic year ends.

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