While many schools – especially those in the Metro Atlanta area — had already cancelled classes or transitioned to online schooling for the next few weeks, Governor Brian Kemp made school closures mandatory Monday evening.
In accordance with newly issued federal guidance, Kemp signed an Executive Order closing all public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary public schools in Georgia from March 18, 2020 to March 31, 2020.
“To keep our students, teachers, and administrators safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I am ordering the closure of all public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools in Georgia from March 18, 2020 to March 31, 2020,” said Gov. Kemp. “This measure is critical to reducing local transmission in communities across our state, and I ask Georgians to continue to follow best practices – washing their hands regularly, isolating the elderly and chronically ill, and avoiding large events if possible – in the days and weeks ahead.”
This followed an announcement earlier Monday by State School Superintendent Richard Woods that he was postponing mandatory school testing – including the Georgia Milestones. He also announced that the Department of Education would be suspending until further notice the Teacher and Leader evaluation (TKES/LKES) requirements and reporting, and State-level attendance-related consequences (including CCRPI, TKES/LKES, School Climate Star Rating, and make-up day requirements).
“Right now, schools’ focus needs to be on the safety of their students and staff,” said Woods. “The focus should be first and foremost on health and safety, then on flexible and creative ways to keep learning and growing. It’s common sense: testing and accountability requirements should not place an additional burden on students, parents, and educators during this time, and they will not in Georgia.”
Woods does not have the authority to cancel the tests outright because most are mandated by the federal government and all by state law. According to officials, he will seek the maximum authority and waivers afforded by the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies to accommodate this ever-evolving situation. Woods will also recommend the approval of a package of waivers, including suspension of the 20 percent course grade requirement for the
Georgia Milestones EOC, to the State Board of Education at their March meeting. That meeting will be via teleconference.
Woods has previously announced that Georgia received waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend meal service flexibility, allowing schools to serve students’ meals through USDA-approved meal service options at state-approved sites — much like districts offer in the summer months. Currently, 102 school district applications have been approved by the Department of Education’s school nutrition staff.
