COVID-19 Response

Updated List of Statewide School Closures with Closure Dates

(Updated May 11; originally published March 17) With nearly every state shutting down schools for the rest of the 2019–2020 academic year, many are now weighing options for summer school, with decisions expected in the next few weeks. Plans for the fall appear to be on hold for most states.

Forty-seven states so far have extended their statewide school closures through the remainder of the school year — 44 by mandate, three by recommendation. Of those that have not closed for the remainder of the year:

  • Montana has allowed schools to reopen as of May 7, although most districts remain closed to in-person instruction. Schools that did reopen in that state are practicing social distancing and taking other precautions with students reentering school buildings. Prior to this, Montana's Department of Education had recommended that all schools in the state remain closed through the end of the school year. Montana was previously included in our list of states that shut down schools for the remainder of the school year.
  • Nebraska schools are closed until May 31, which for many districts in that state is beyond the last day of the academic year anyway. No word yet as to whether that closure date will stand or be extended to encompass all schools in the state.
  • The Wyoming school closure order is currently set to expire May 18. This latest closure extension was issued just a day before the previous closure order's expiration of April 30, and neither the governor not the Department of Education has yet begun hinting at what comes next.

Plans for Summer and Fall

We're now beginning to track statewide plans for summer schools, along with highlights from some of the major school districts. Most states have not yet issues clear guidance on summer school with regards to potential in-person instruction. In states without clear guidance, many large districts have already announced cancellation of in-person instruction for the summer. Here's what is known so far. (Red indicates a state has clearly closed summer schools to in-person instruction; green indicates open.)

  • In Alabama, schools were allowed to hold graduation ceremonies in person beginning May 11. Athletics and summer school sessions for older students could be open starting June 8, according to local reporting.
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom said schools will not be ordered closed through the summer but will be given guidelines for reopening. Interestingly, in late April, the governor put forth the idea that schools might reopen early for the fall, as soon as July or early August, to offset learning loss. The largest district in the state and second-largest in the nation, Los Angeles Unified, will remain closed through summer, continuing to provide online instruction.
  • Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said May 5 he's discussing options for summer school with education leaders, with the possibility of in-person instruction some time in July.
  • In Hawaii, summer school is expected to continue online, according to local reporting.
  • In Illinois, summer school is definitely being held remotely, according to State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala. The fall semester could potentially start with remote instruction, but that is only one possibility at this point. (See reporting in the Chicago Sun-Times.)
  • In Indiana, summer school will likely continue online, according to local reporting. For the fall, the state may adopt a hybrid online/remote learning approach.
  • Iowa schools might be able to offer summer classes as early as June, according to local reporting. Schools are being allowed to start the fall semester early as well, prior to the normal start date of Aug. 23, according to an executive order issued by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds May 6.
  • Maryland's plans for summer are unclear, but for the fall, state leaders are weighing options that include allowing younger students to return to classes first, with social distancing in place, according to local reporting.
  • Montana schools are currently allowed to operate for in-person instruction (as of May 7). Very few districts are doing that at this point.
  • New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters May 4 that a decision about summer school would come by the end of May. 
  • New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a decision about summer school will be coming in late May.
  • Oregon schools can resume in-person instruction in the summer, according to a new plan unveiled May 8. Social distancing will be in effect for those schools that do choose to reopen.
  • In South Carolina, summer school might resume for at-risk students.

Closed Through the End of the Year

States explicitly ordering or advising their schools to remain closed to in-person instruction through the end of the 2019–2020 academic year now include (bold indicates extension announced this week; green indicates a recommendation rather than a mandate; links are to official documents where possible):

  1. Alabama extended its closures through the end of the year. The original closure date was April 6. (memo and executive order dated April 3)
  2. Alaska is now closing its schools for the rest of the year. Alaska originally had a two-week closure, followed by an extension to May 1. (announcement dated April 9)
  3. Arizona has extended its statewide school closure for the third time, this time through the end of the school year. (announcement dated March 30)
  4. Arkansas announced its schools will remained closed through the end of the academic year. (announcement dated April 6)
  5. California is extending its school closures through the end of the year. To date California has not placed its school closure mandate in writing. (daily press briefing via Twitter dated April 1)
  6. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said schools in his state will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. This announcement was part of a presentation that has not been posted in its entirety online. However, local news organizations captured screen shots of the presentation showing that schools will remain closed in Colorado's "safer at home" phase, which is replacing the state's current "stay at home" order. (screen shot dated April 20; written announcement dated April 23)
  7. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont ordered schools closed for the remainder of the school year. (announcement dated May 5)
  8. Delaware Gov. John Carney announced schools will remain closed through the end of the school year. Delaware's previous closure order had been set to expire May 15. (announcement dated April 24)
  9. Florida closed its schools for the remainder of the year April 18.The previous closure was set to expire April 30. (announcement dated April 18)
  10. Georgia has again extended its statewide school closure mandate, this time through the end of the year. (PDF of executive order dated April 1; Georgia's executive order archive)
  11. Hawaii schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. (announcement dated April 17)
  12. Idaho schools will be out through the end of the academic year, the Idaho State Board of Education decided. (announcement dated April 6)
  13. Illinois schools are now officially closed through the remainder of the school year, Gov. JB Pritzker announced April 17. That state's closures had been set to expire April 30. (announcement dated April 16)
  14. Indiana announced Thursday it is closing its schools for the remainder of the school year. That state had set a May 1 date initially. (executive order dated April 2)
  15. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds closed schools in her state through the remainder of the school year. The announcement was made April 17. (announcement dated April 17)
  16. Kansas closed its schools for the remainder of the school year. The state originally closed schools for in-person instruction through May 29, which was beyond the last day of the regular school year for many districts anyway. (announcement dated March 17)
  17. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear advised school leaders to keep schools closed for the remainder of the school year on April 20. (announcement dated April 20)
  18. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an executive order April 15 closing all schools in the state through the remainder of the school year. This was Louisiana's second extension of school closures. The first extended the closures from an original date of April 13 to April 30. (announcement dated April 15)
  19. Maine's Department of Education recommended statewide school closures through the end of the year but did not mandate such closures. Schools are closed by mandate through April 30 via a stay-at-home order that went into effect March 31.(announcement dated April 9 of action taken April 7)
  20. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced schools are closing for the remainder of the school year. The previous closure order was set to expire May 15. (announcement dated May 6)
  21. Massachusetts schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Schools had been slated to reopen May 4. (announcement dated April 21)
  22. Michigan closed its schools for the rest of the year. This was the state's second extension. (executive order, undated, announcement dated April 2 of action taken April 2)
  23. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ordered schools closed for the remainder of the school year on April 23. Minnesota's closures had been set to expire May 4. (press conference dated April 23)
  24. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced that state's schools will close for the rest of the school year. Mississippi's closure had been set to expire this Friday. (announcement dated April 14)
  25. Missouri announced schools will remain closed through the end of the academic year. (announcement dated April 9)
  26. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced April 21 schools in his state will remain closed even as the state begins loosening restrictions. (press conference dated April 21, announcement about schools at 30:44; written announcement dated April 22)
  27. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ordered schools closed through the remainder of the school year.(executive order dated April 16)
  28. New Mexico extended to the end of the school year. This was the second extension. The original closure date was April 6, with an initial extension through April 10. (announcement dated March 27)
  29. New Jersey ordered schools closed for the remainder of the year following two previous closure order extensions. For schools with longer academic years, the closures are in effect until at least June 30. (press release dated May 2)
  30. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered schools closed for the remainder of the academic year. (press conference dated May 1, announcement about schools at 29:00)
  31. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper extended closures in his state through the end of the school year. That state's previous closure order had been set to expire May 15. (announcement dated April 24)
  32. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ordered schoolsclosed for the remainder of the school year after a previous closure "until further notice." (press release dated May 1)
  33. Ohio formally closed its schools for the remainder of the school year on April 20. (Ohio Department of Education notice dated April 20)
  34. Oklahoma's State Board of Education extended school closures to the end of the school year from April 6, mandating online learning for the rest of the school year. (announcement dated March 25)
  35. Oregon announced its closure through the end of the year. (announcement dated April 8)
  36. Pennsylvania formally shuttered its schools for the rest of the year April 8. Previously schools had been closed "until further notice." (announcement dated April 9)
  37. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Rhode Island schools had been set to resume normal operations after April 30. (press conference dated April 23)
  38. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced the continued closure of South Carolina schools on April 22. (press conference dated April 22, executive order pending)
  39. South Dakota extended its closures through the end of the school year, extending from May 1. (press conference dated April 6)
  40. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee recommended schools in that state close for the remainder of the school year. (bulletin dated April 15)
  41. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott extended school closures through the remainder of the school year. That state's closures had been set to expire May 4. The latest order came through April 17. (executive order dated April 17)
  42. Utah announced April 14 it will close schools for the rest of the academic year. Utah schools had previously been slated to reopen after May 1. (announcement dated April 14)
  43. Vermont extended closures to the end of the school year (originally April 6). (directive dated March 26)
  44. Virginia formally extended school closures through the end of the school year. They were previously scheduled for a two-week closure.(executive order dated April 15)
  45. Washington announced April 6 it will close schools for the remainder of the academic year and is preparing for potentially remaining closed through summer and into fall.(announcement dated April 6)
  46. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice closed schools in that state for the rest of the school year. The previous closure order was set to expire April 30. (announcement dated April 21)
  47. On April 16, Wisconsin extended its school closures to the end of the year. (executive order dated April 16)

Closure Extensions

All remaining states have now (as of April 16) announced extensions to their statewide closure dates, but not through the end of the year. Those have included (bold indicates extensions announced this week):

  1. Nebraska has extended school closures statewide to the end of May, which for most districts is beyond the end of the school year.
  2. Wyoming extended until May 18 from an original end date of April 3 and two earlier extensions of April 17 and April 30. (executive order dated April 28)

School Back in Session

  1. Montana schools were allowed to reopen, at the discretion of local school boards, starting May 7. Very few schools chose to do so. An account of those schools can be found here. Montana's formal school closure period ran from March 16 to May 7. Most districts in the state remain closed.

Complete List of Mandated Closures

The following is a complete list of mandated statewide school closures known at this time. Closures began March 16 unless otherwise noted. Red indicates closed for the remainder of the 2019–2020 school year. Green indicates classes are back in session.

  1. Alabama, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from April 6) (Alabama's original proclamation and Alabama State Department of Education memo detailing that schoolis out through the remainder of the year)
  2. Alaska, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from an initial plan of March 30 and an extension to May 1) (Alaska Department of Education's original memo and the state's announcement closing schools for the remainder of the school year)
  3. Arizona, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from an original date of March 27, then an initial extension of April 10, then April 30) (Arizona governor's original announcement and announcement closing schools for the remainder of the school year)
  4. Arkansas, schools closed March 17 through the end of the school year (extended from an original planned closure through March 30 and an extended closure of April 13) (Arkansas governor's original announcement and announcement of closure through the end of the school year)
  5. California closed its schools for the remainder of the school year. (California's announcement)
  6. Colorado, schools closed March 23 through the remainder of the school year (extended from April 17 and April 30) (Colorado's original announcement and first extension announcement; the end of year extension has not yet been posted)
  7. Connecticut, schools closed until for the remainder of the school year (extended from original March 31, April 20 and May 20) (Connecticut's original announcement and announcement of closures for the remainder of the school year dated May 5)
  8. Delaware, schools closed through the end of the school year. (extended from March 27 and May 15) (Delaware's original declaration and most recent announcement)
  9. Florida, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from the originally planned reopen date of March 30, extended again from April 15 and again from April 30) (Florida Department of Education's original announcement)
  10. Georgia, schools closed March 18 through the end of the school year (extended from March 31 and April 24) (Georgia's original executive order)
  11. Hawaii, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from March 30, then April 6 then April 30) (Hawaii DOE's original notice and latest extension notice)
  12. Idaho, schools closed March 23 through the end of the school year (extended from April 20) (Idaho State Department of Education guidance)
  13. Illinois, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from March 30, April 7 and April 30) (Illinois' original executive order)
  14. Indiana, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from May 1) (Indiana's original executive order)
  15. Iowa, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from April 15 and April 30)  (Iowa governor's original recommendation)
  16. Kansas, schools closed for the remainder of the school year (Kansas' executive order)
  17. Kentucky, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from march 31, April 20 and April 30) (Kentucky governor's original guidance and most recent announcement)
  18. Louisiana, schools closed for the rest of the school year (extended from April 13 and April 30) (Louisiana's original proclamation and most recent order)
  19. Maine's Department of Education formally recommended schools in the state remain closed through the remainder of the year. However, the state did not mandate this. Several districts are reporting they will follow the recommendation. Formally, schools are closed by mandate, as of a March 31 stay-at-home order, through April 30. (Maine's order and DOE recommendation to remain closed through the end of the school year)
  20. Maryland, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from March 30, April 24 and May 15) (Maryland DOE's original notice and announcement of closure through the end of the school year dated May 6)
  21. Massachusetts, schools closed through the end of the school year (Extended from April 6 and May 4) (Massachusetts' order  and latest announcement)
  22. Michigan, schools closed through the rest of the school year (extended from April 6 and April 13) (Michigan's original executive order and order closing schools for the rest of the year)
  23. Minnesota, schools closed March 18 through the remainder of the school year (extended from March 27, April 30 and May 4) (Minnesota's original executive order and press conference dated April 23)
  24. Mississippi, schools closed for the remainder of the school year (extended from April 17) (Mississippi's original executive order and most recent guidance from the Mississippi Department of Education)
  25. Missouri, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (original closure mandate started April 6 and was originally supposed to go through April 24) (Missouri's original announcement)
  26. Montana, schools had been recommended for closure through the end of the school year by the state school board. However, the governor allowed schools to reopen at the discretion of local school boards beginning May 7. (closures extended from March 27, April 10 and April 24 and end of school year, then changed to allow reopening May 7) (Montana's original announcement, (recommendation dated April 9 and governor's decision to allow reopening dated April 22)
  27. Nebraska has formally closed schools through May 31, which is beyond the end of the school year for most districts in that state. The state did not formally require schools to be closed until April 1, though every district in the state had shut down on their own long before that. (Nebraska Department of Education's notice)
  28. Nevada, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from April 6 and April 30) (Nevada's original announcement and announcement of closure through the end of the year at time 30:44; written announcement dated April 22)
  29. New Hampshire, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from April 3 and May 4) (New Hampshire's original emergency order)
  30. New Jersey, schools closed March 18 through the end of the academic year(extended from April 17 and May 15) (New Jersey's original announcement and latest press release, dated May 2)
  31. New Mexico, schools closed for the rest of the school year (extended from April 6 then April 10) (New Mexico's original executive order)
  32. New York, schools closed March 18 through the end of the school year (extended from April 1, April 15, April 29 and May 15) (New York's original announcement and latest press conference dated May 1, announcement about schools at 29:00)
  33. North Carolina, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from March 30 and May 15) (North Carolina's original executive order and announcement dated April 24)
  34. North Dakota, schools closed for the remainder of the school year (extended from an original one-week closure, then "until further notice") (North Dakota's original executive order and press release dated May 1 closing schools for the remainder of the school year)
  35. Ohio, schools closed through the reminder of the school year (extended from April 6 and May 1) (Ohio's original announcement and most recent announcement)
  36. Oklahoma, schools closed March 17 through the end of the school year (extended from April 6) (Oklahoma State Board of Education memo and extension memo)
  37. Oregon, schools closed for the remainder of the school year (extended from April 1 then April 28) (Oregon's original executive order)
  38. Pennsylvania, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from March 30, April 6 and "until further notice") (Pennsylvania's original announcement and latest announcement)
  39. Rhode Island, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from original one-week closure then May 1) (Rhode Island Department of Education message and press conference dated April 23)
  40. South Carolina, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from March 31 and April 30) (South Carolina Department of Education's original notice and announcement of closure through the end of the school year)
  41. South Dakota, schools closed through the end of the school year (This is South Dakota's third extension; The original planned date was March 22, then March 29, then May 1.) (South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's original press conference)
  42. Tennessee, schools closed March 20 through the end of the school (extended from March 31 then April 24) (Tennessee Governor Bill Lee's original statement)
  43. Texas, schools closed March 20 through the remainder of the school year (extended from April 3 and May 4) (Texas' proclamation No. 4)
  44. Utah, schools closed through the remainder of the school year (extended from March 30 and May 1) (Utah's original announcement)
  45. Vermont, schools closed March 18 to the end of the school year (extended from April 6) (Vermont's original announcement)
  46. Virginia, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from a previous two-week closure) (Virginia's original closure announcement)
  47. Washington, schools closed through the end of the school year (extended from April 24) (Washington's original announcement and proclamation closing schools for the remainder of the year and potentially beyond)
  48. West Virginia, schools closed through the remainder of the school year April 30 (extended from March 27 then April 20 then April 30) (West Virginia's original announcement and latest announcement)
  49. Wisconsin, schools closed March 18 through the end of the school year (extended from April 6 and April 24) (Wisconsin's original executive order and latest order)
  50. Wyoming, schools closed until May 18 (extended from April 3, April 17 and April 30) (Wyoming's original executive order and executive order extending the closure to May 18 dated April 28)

No Closure Mandate

As of April 6,all states have now mandated school closures. On April 6, Missouri became the final state to issue a mandate.

We will update this list as more information becomes available. You can find tips for preparing for remote teaching and learning here. See additional COVID-19 resources here.

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