Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has declared all public schools to close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year, Fairfax County Public Schools is determining the next steps. The School Board is meeting for an emergency session Monday.

All FCPS athletic activities and any extra-curricular activities are canceled for the remainder of the year. All school buildings and administrative offices are closed until further notice.

Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction, James Lane stated that the Virginia Department of Education will give direction in how the students could complete the school year on Tuesday of next week. These recommendations could include: graduation requirements for seniors, how to facilitate grading for the current year, 2020 academic completion potentially with online courses and or longer school year next year.

In a letter from Superintendent Scott Brabrand, he stated: “I know this is very disappointing news but also an understandable decision considering the environment we are in as we all try to do our part to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the virus.”

Governor Northam stated that his administration is working to identify waivers to grant relief on testing requirements so that graduating students are able to finish the academic year.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control has said that closing schools for eight weeks or more may have a bigger impact on slowing the spread of coronavirus than two- to four-week closures.