Since we most recently updated this figure on April 2, two states—California and South Dakota—have announced they are keeping their school buildings closed for the rest of the school year. Three other states—Louisiana, New York, and Wyoming—took more incremental steps, pushing scheduled opening dates into May.
U.S. school closures because of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 began in New York private schools March 3, expanded to some Seattle-area public schools on March 6, and have rapidly swept the country. Education Next published its first article on the issue, “Closing Schools To Slow a Pandemic,” March 9. A March 25 article, “Covid-19 Closed Schools. When Should They Reopen?” included then-current information on the duration of announced school closures, along with a discussion of the factors to consider in deciding whether to resume. The timetable for schools to re-open is updated in the infographic below. While schools are closed physically, many, though not all, are providing some kind of distance learning or online programming.
Statewide School Closures
Source: Council of Chief State School Officers; Education Next research
Note: All data as of April 6, 2020.
More up-to-date closure and re-opening information, accurate as of May 4, 2020, is available here.
Read more from Education Next on coronavirus and Covid-19.
