ohio school empty

ohio school empty

The empty world language space is shown at Orange High School, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

AP Photo/Tony Dejak.


  • Schools across the country will be closed in the coming days, weeks, and sometimes, months over efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19
  • While some states have actually left it up to districts to choose, 21 states and Washington, DC have announced the closure of schools statewide.
  • In addition to public schools, some state leaders have actually suggested or required personal K-12 schools likewise close.
  • Go to Insider’s homepage for more stories

Even in states like California, where schools have not closed statewide, specific districts have actually revealed total shutdowns.

Not all schools are closing. New York City, for example, which has the biggest has K-12 population in the country — Los Angeles Unified accounts for the second-largest– has so far refused to shut down its schools, triggering rumors of a potential teacher “sick-out” as the teachers’ union president called on New York City Mayor Costs deBlasio to cancel school, the New York Post reported.

— Eric Umansky (@ericuman) March 15, 2020

Here are states that have closed down schools in an attempt to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Alabama schools will close from Wednesday, March 18 until a minimum of April 6.

Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey revealed on March 14 schools will close in the coming days and will stay closed up until April 6, according to the Alabama News Network

Mackey said schools would remain open for three days next week in order to give moms and dads added time to get ready for the closure.

” That offers moms and dads three days extra to start dealing with and thinking of childcare,” Mackey said. “We didn’t wish to do something that was too quick since we understand parents need some time to make those decisions for their children.”

Alaska authorities closed all public schools to trainees until March 30.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy reveals the state of Alaska has its very first positive case of the new coronavirus, throughout a press conference Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska.

AP Photo/Mark Thiessen.


Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday, March 13 that students in the state would not return to school until March30 “So throughout that time, there will be no trainees in the public schools.

Delaware Gov. John Carney announced schools would be closed until March 27.

John Carney

Delaware Gov. John Carney in a Monday, Nov. 28, 2016 file picture.

AP Photo/Randall Chase.


” We will specifically prepare for the prospective effect of extended school closures on Delaware children and their families,” he wrote.

All Florida schools will be closed through March 30.

Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks to reporters at the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, March 14,2020

AP Photo/Bobby Caina Calvan.


The Florida Department of Education revealed schools would be closed for 2 weeks– from March 16 to March 27– and classes would resume on March 30, Fox 13 News reported.

Illinois schools should be closed by Tuesday, March 17.

AP_20073562426756

Stevenson High School is closed today in Lincolnshire, Ill., Friday, March 13,2020 Adlai E. Stevenson High School is closed and relocated to virtual class starting Friday and continue till spring break ends in April due to concerns connected to the spread of the new coronavirus.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh.


Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced March 13 that all schools in the state should close by Tuesday, March 17, and remain closed up until March 30, the Chicago Tribune reported.

” Let me be clear, I comprehend the gravity of this action and what it indicates for each community in our fantastic state,” Pritzker stated. “None of the decisions we have actually had to make over the recently have been easy or easy.”

Louisana schools will be closed till April 13.

Louisiana schools

School Resource Officer Donald Lee locks the gates of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Primary School for Science and Innovation, after all the trainees left, in New Orleans, Friday, March 13,2020

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert.


Gov. John Bel Edwards on March 13 announced all schools in Louisiana would close starting Monday, March16 Classes aren’t scheduled to resume up until Monday, April 13, efficiently closing schools for a whole month, KATC reported.

Maryland public schools will be closed through March 27.

Larry Hogan

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announces that an individual verified to have the new coronavirus attended an event at a retirement community in Rockville, Md., during a news conference Friday, March 6, 2020 in Annapolis, Md.

AP Photo/Brian Witte.


Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on March 13 announced public schools in the state would close from March 16 to March 27.

Hogan also stated independent schools must close, CBS Baltimore reported. He added that public schools would be cleaned up while they are closed.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz closed public and independent schools from March 18 to March 27.

Tim Walz

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a press conference at the state Capitol in St. Paul, Thursday, Jan. 30,2020

AP Photo/Steve Karnowski.


” My leading priority as guv is the safety of Minnesotans.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closed schools in the state up until April 6.

Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces the state’s very first 2 cases of coronavirus, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at the Michigan State Cops headquarters in Windsor Municipality, Mich.

AP Photo/David Eggert.


Whitmer revealed March 13 that schools in Michigan would be closed for 3 weeks up until April 6.

” This we feel is an essential action to protect kids and teachers and families and our overall public health,” Whitmer stated, according to WOOD TV8

New Mexico public schools will close down for 3 weeks.

Michelle Lujan Grisham

In this Wednesday, March 11, 2020, photo New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, right, reveals a public health emergency situation in response to the state’s first favorable tests for COVID-19, at a press conference in Santa Fe, N.M.

AP Photo/Morgan Lee.


New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Public Education Department and the state Department of Health revealed the choice to close schools for 3 weeks on March 12, according to The Albuquerque Journal

Schools are currently scheduled to open back up on April 6.

K-12 schools are closed in North Carolina for at least two weeks.

Roy Cooper

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks with fans while signed up with by his wife Kristin during a main election night celebration in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, March 3,2020

AP Photo/Gerry Broome.


Schools in the state will be closed till at least Friday, March 27.

Ohio closed schools until April 3.

ohio school empty

The empty world language space is revealed at Orange High School, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

AP Photo/Tony Dejak.


Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on March 12 the closure of all public, personal, and charter schools in Ohio till April 3.

” We believed long and hard about that, and we understand the sacrifice this is going to require, however this is the best medical recommendations we can get from individuals who study infections,” DeWine said, according to The Columbus Dispatch

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown purchased all K-12 schools in the state to close from Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown elbow-bumps trainee Charlie Abrams at a ceremony on Tuesday, March 10,2020

AP Photo/Andrew Selsky.


” I have actually heard from superintendents, school board members, instructors, moms and dads, and students that it has actually now ended up being difficult to functionally operate schools due to labor force issues and trainee lacks,” Brown stated in a news release Teachers will use the last 2 days of March to prepare classrooms for “running schools under updated steps,” the guv stated.

Pennsylvania schools will be closed for two weeks.

Tom Wolf

Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania speaks at a new conference at Pennsylvania Emergency situation Management Headquarters where he said he was purchasing schools and other facilities to close in a suburban Philadelphia county, Montgomery County, that has been hard-hit by the COVID-19, Thursday, March 12, 2020 in Harrisburg, Pa.

AP Photo/Marc Levy.


” First and foremost, my top concern as governor– and that of our education leaders– must be to make sure the health and wellness of our students and school communities,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf stated in a press release March 13.

” As such, I am buying that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks. Know that no school district will be penalized if it fails to fulfill the 180 day or school hours requirements.”

Schools in Rhode Island will be closed for one week.

AP_20072639426520

In this March 7, 2020 file photo, a swing sits empty on a play ground outside Achievement First charter school in Providence, R.I. The general public charter school, like a nearby Catholic school, closed after a teacher who participated in the exact same Italy journey awaited test results for the new coronavirus.

AP Photo/David Goldman.


Gov. Gina Raimondo announced March 13 all schools in the state would be closed for one week from March 16 to March20 She said she was moving trainees’ school break– originally prepared for April– up so that they were still on track to finish the academic year on time, according to WPRI

South Dakota schools will likewise close for one week.

Kristi Noem

In this Jan. 23, 2019, file picture, Gov. Kristi Noem gives her very first spending plan address to lawmakers at the state Capitol in Pierre, S.D.

AP Photo/James Nord.


Gov. Kristi Noem announced all public schools would be closed for one week, from March 16 through March 20 so that they might be deep cleaned.

She advised private schools to do the exact same, KOTA reported.

All K-12 schools in Utah will participate in a “soft closure” for two weeks.

Gary Herbert

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert provides his 11 th and last State of the State address in the Utah Home Chambers, at the Utah Sate Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 29,2020

Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune through AP.


” This is sensible,” Gov. Gary Herbert said at a March 13 news conference.

Virginia schools will close for 2 weeks.

Ralph Northam

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, front, gestures throughout a news conference as House speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, right, and Secretary of Public safety Brian Moran, left, look on at the Capitol Thursday March 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Northam stated a state of emergency situation due to the coronavirus break out.

AP Photo/Steve Helber.


” I recognize this will pose a hardship on numerous households, but closing our schools for two weeks will not only provide our personnel time to clean and disinfect school centers, it will assist slow the spread of this virus,” he stated.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced public and independent schools would close till a minimum of April 24.

Jay Inslee

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks to the media about his choice to expand school closures and prohibition of big events throughout all of Washington in an effort to slow the spread of the brand-new coronavirus, Friday, March 13,2020

AP Photo/Rachel La Corte.


Inslee on March 13 announced schools– both public and personal– would be closed starting on March 17 and remain closed through March and April.

” We have COVID-19 cases in the counties that represent completely 75 percent of the population of the state of Washington,” Inslee stated according to The News Tribune “It is unfortunate, but it holds true that this infection is going to spread to other counties, and it is spreading out really quickly. We have concluded that a county-by-county approach to this epidemic is not enough.”

West Virginia schools will be closed for the time being.

Jim Justice

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, right, and West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission Executive Director Bernie Dolan address a news conference Thursday, March 12, 2020, at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va.

AP Photo/John Raby.


West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice closed schools in West Virginia after the end of the school day on March13 He did not state when it prepared to allow schools to re-open.

” West Virginia is a low-risk state since there isn’t much international travel here. The guv is being proactive in closing the schools,” Costs Crouch, WV Department Health and Human being Resources, stated according to WBOY

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers purchased public and independent schools closed up until April 6.

Tony Evers

In this Dec. 19, 2019, file picture, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers sits for an interview with The Associated Press at his workplace in Madison, Wisc.

AP photo/Scott Bauer.


Evers stated schools in the state need to be closed by Wednesday, March 18, and would not re-open up until a minimum of April 6.

” Keeping our kids, our educators, our households, and our communities safe is a top concern as we continue to work to respond to and avoid further spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin,” Evers said, according to WBAY

Washington, DC schools are closed until at least April 1.

Muriel Bowser

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser leaves a news conference on city updates in action to the coronavirus at the University of the District of Columbia Neighborhood College, Friday, March 13, 2020, in Washington.

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik.


DC schools will be closed until a minimum of April 1, Lewis D. Ferebee, Chancellor of DC Public Schools, said. Students will continue discovering through “distance knowing,” he stated, according to WUSA

” We acknowledge the substantial impact this extended closure will have on our whole community,” Ferebee stated in a letter. “Closing DCPS for two weeks due to a citywide health emergency situation mid-year is unprecedented. We acknowledge the anxiety this might trigger our trainees, especially our elders who are concentrated on graduation and those students who depend on DCPS for vital services.”

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