ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — In his daily briefing on Friday, Governor Cuomo announced that schools in New York State would remain closed through the end of the academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Existing meal services and childcare for essential workers will continue.
The order comes after weeks of wondering by parents, students and teachers.
Western New York students were last in school in mid-March, with many schools announcing their closures between March 13 and March 17. At that time, Erie County announced all schools would be closed through April 20; Niagara County schools were closed indefinitely.
On April 6, Governor Cuomo announced that schools would be closed through April 29.
On April 9, Pennsylvania announced its schools would remain closed through the end of the academic year.
On April 11, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio announced schools in the city would remain closed through the end of the academic year, though Governor Cuomo later said the mayor did not have the authority to close them.
On April 16, Governor Cuomo extended the PAUSE order-- and school closures-- through May 15.
Since then, the state has faced increased pressure from school districts and parents of students to make a decision on whether schools would reopen this academic year.
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Right now, it's unclear how individual districts plan to handle any needs students may have to collect belongings left at their schools.
Governor Cuomo said on Friday that an announcement about the fate of summer school programs will be made by the end of the month.
