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Florida Schools To Remain Closed Through April 30th

School bus with Jackson County Schools written on the side
Jackson County Schools Facebook
School bus with Jackson County Schools written on the side

Students in Florida’s public schools won’t be in classrooms anytime soon. The Florida Department of Education has ordered schools be closed until at least April 30 th.

School bus with Jackson County Schools written on the side
Credit Jackson County Schools Facebook
School bus with Jackson County Schools written on the side

The directive comes after President Donald Trump extended federal social distancing guidelines to April 30 th. Many Florida school districts have taken up distance learning to keep kids engaged academically. The success of the effort dependents largely on follow through, and whether students have the technology available to make it work. Already there have been concerns regarding distance learning for students with disabilities.

The school year in many counties is slated to be over at the end of May. The Florida Department of Education has previously said it could extend the school year until June 30 th but many districts say they’d need help paying for teachers for that time as most teacher contracts are up at the end of the regular school year.

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Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas. She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. When she’s not working, Lynn spends her time watching sci-fi and action movies, writing her own books, going on long walks through the woods, traveling and exploring antique stores. Follow Lynn Hatter on Twitter: @HatterLynn.