Seniors who had passing grades can graduate
King Elementary School in northeast Portland. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ordered all K-12 schools in the state closed for the academic year Wednesday, April 8 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Mark Washington
(AP) — Gov. Kate Brown said Wednesday that Oregon’s K-12 schools will remain closed through the academic year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Oregon Health authorities say there are more than 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state and more than 30 deaths.
“Missing school is especially difficult on our students and their parents,” Brown said. “To all the moms and dads, I can’t imagine what you’re up against balancing parenting during this very scary crisis.”
Brown said high school seniors who had passing grades in mid-March will receive passing grades in all their classes so they can graduate.
While schools may be closed, teaching and learning are still occurring online and at home. As one resident told the Portland Observer, kids are not off the hook. Portland Public School's new distance learning experiment, for example, rolls out next week.
On Monday, schools in next door Washington closed for the remainder of the school year because of the coronavirus outbreak by order of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Schools in Washington are also promoting instruction at home and online.