Governor Cooper announcing that the state is in partnership with AT&T, who will provide 100 hotspots for school buses. Duke Energy Foundation will provide another 80 hotspots for buses. #NCed #Covid19NC

North Carolina will continue remote learning for the rest of the school year for K-12 public schools. #NCed #Covid19NC

Cooper says, "We do not make this decision lightly." Notes that health and well-being of students and staff is paramount. There will be plans for intensive learning programs for students who will need more help. Next school year will continue to look different. #NCed #Covid19NC

The availability of summer programs will depend on health regulations as the #Covid19 situation continues to play out. #NCed #Covid19NC

Superintendent Johnson says that more information will be released about grading for this school year and what next year may look like. #NCed #Covid19NC

Chairman of the State Board, Eric Davis, notes the importance of collaboration during this time - working groups are coming together to make sound recommendations to inform decisions for the benefit of students. #NCed #Covid19NC

Today's order addresses four key themes: focusing on health and safety of students/staff, ensuring access to meals, maintaining student/teacher relationships, and keeping students engaged through remote learning. #NCed #Covid19NC

Teachers and other school employees are to continue to work and will continue to be paid. Local leaders should continue to assign duties to classified staff members to keep them working.

"We need their talents to continue remote learning," says Davis. #NCed #Covid19NC

Davis says the state will move to a readiness stage in a few weeks to continue to provide training/support for Ts as they rethink structure/delivery of content. #NCed #Covid19NC

Hope to invite students to get a "jump start" for next school year with a program focused on early grade literacy. Depending on funding, SBE hopes to expand that opportunity to more students. #NCed #Covid19NC

For reentry, Davis makes it clear that North Carolina will operate schools differently next school year. More to come as plans continue to develop. #NCed #Covid19NC

Cooper says he's proposing $1.4 billion from the CARES Act to fund immediate needs in public health/safety, continuity of education/other state services, and small business support. #NCed #Covid19NC

Breakdown of these funds:

Public health/safety: ~$300M
Continuity of education/other state services: ~$740M
Small business support: ~$375M

#NCed #Covid19NC

Additional information about how the education and state services funds would be used. #NCed #Covid19NC

Q: What strategies can be used to reach Ss who aren't engaged in remote learning?

Cooper says more Ss are engaging each day, especially with the increasing number of hotspots. Davis reminds listeners that educators are engaging digitally & non-digitally. #NCed #Covid19NC

Even with the range of means to engage in remote learning, Davis shares that based on a recent survey, 300K students shared that they would benefit from having a device like a Chromebook to ensure they can engage in emergency remote learning. #NCed #Covid19NC

Q: What conditions need to be met for schools to reopen in the fall?

Cooper says that decisions will be made about year-round schools and summer camps as we move forward. Already, plans are being made for how to reopen schools. #NCed #Covid19NC

Q: What about private & parochial schools? What do you say to parents?

Cooper responds that private/parochial schools will make their own decisions. #NCed #Covid19NC

Cooper reiterates that this decision was not made lightly and was made with the high hopes that we'd be able to finish the school year. After consulting with health experts, the decision to return to the brick and mortar buildings wasn't the right call. #NCed #Covid19NC

He goes on and notes that this news is hard for students and families, but hopes parents/guardians know that this decision was made with their child's health in mind. #NCed #Covid19NC

Q: Can you share the ideas for next school year?

Cooper states that we'll continue to battle this virus into the summer/fall. Lots of hard work and planning is going into how to provide cleaning in buildings, staggering and spacing things. #NCed #Covid19NC

Cooper says that NCDHHS is working closely with the State Board and NCDPI on these efforts. #NCed #Covid19NC