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REPORT: Gov. Whitmer to sign executive order closing schools for remainder of school year

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LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days that will close Michigan schools for the remainder of the school year, according to a published report in Bridge Magazine.

Bridge reports that high school seniors will graduate, and students in grades kindergarten through 11th will move on to the next grade. Also, Michigan’s third-grade reading law will not be enforced this year. Read more of the report here.

The move comes as health care workers, first responders and all of the state continue to fight against the spreading coronavirus.

On March 27, Whitmer said on WWJ Newsradio 950 that it was "very unlikely" schools will resume session for this year.

"We are working diligently to come up with a plan to meet the needs of our kids," she said in the WWJ interview. "I think anyone who's watching what is happening globally with this pandemic knows it's probably very unlikely they're going to get back into school before the end of the year."

It's unclear at this time when the official announcement will be made or the details of the executive order.

As of March 30, there have been 184 deaths due to COVID-19 with currently 6,498 positive cases in the state.

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Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.

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