SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As recently reported by the Illinois Information Service, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all Illinois schools closed by Tuesday, March 17, for the roughly 2 million children affected by the state’s attempt to slow the coronavirus. The order, which also includes private and charter schools, will be in effect until at least March 30.
“Let me be clear, I understand the gravity of this action and what it means for every community in our great state. None of the decisions we have had to make over the last week have been easy or simple", said Gov. Pritzker during the press conference.
According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, at the time of the announcement Illinois was among nine states to shutter its schools as governors have taken dramatic steps to decelerate the pandemic. The Chicago Archdiocese and at least 90 other districts statewide already had canceled classes before Pritzker’s decision Friday.
Each school district is expected to handle the closure differently, with some ceasing educational instruction until the order is lifted and others providing lessons online. Prior to Pritzker’s announcement, more than 75 school districts had notified the Illinois State Board of Education that they intended to implement e-learning that allows children to study at home via the internet.
Pritzker will allow schools to remain open Monday so students can collect their learning materials and teachers can explain how the at-home lesson plans will work. CPS will be open, but many other districts have canceled classes.
The state will view these as “act of God” days, meaning school personnel are expected to be paid during the next two weeks. The governor also waived the requirement that schools be in session for 180 days to receive state funding, meaning no district will lose tax dollars as a result of cancellations.
Daycares are allowed to stay open for now.