Gov. Inslee issues closure of remaining school year

OLYMPIA – Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, in a joint news conference with Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, on Monday, April 6, announced that all K-12 public schools in the state will remain closed through the end of the school year in June.

In an earlier order Gov. Inslee ordered a statewide school closure from March 17 through April 24.

“Today I am extending the onsite instruction closure order,” said Inslee. “All public and private K-12 schools in our state will be stopped from providing in person instruction through the end of the school year in June.”

Inslee added that all schools will continue distance learning until the end of the school year.

“We simply cannot take the chance of opening on-site instruction during this school year,” said Inslee. “We cannot risk losing the gains we have made after the peak of this pandemic presumably will have passed.”

In his opening remarks Inslee cited 7,984 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and 338 deaths from the virus as of Sunday, April 5, and said he was taking his current actions to help flatten the curve of the virus.

In comments directed to high school seniors Inslee said, “If you are a senior in good standing, we expect that you will receive your diploma this year.”

In a related issue, the Washington State Board of Education met via teleconference on Wednesday, April 8, to determine new graduation guidelines.