All publicly-funded schools in Ontario will now stay closed until at least May 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stephen Lecce, Ontario minister of education, made the announcement on Sunday afternoon.
Lecce said the decision was made based on the recommendations of provincial health officials.
"That extension will provide the province and government more time, more sufficient time, to review the data and make the best decision based on the best medical advice," he said.
If need be, the closure may be extended further to protect the health and safety of Ontario's school communities.
Should schools be permitted to reopen, school employees will have access on May 29.
According to Lecce, the Ministry of Education will move forward to replace the remainder of PA days and examination days with instructional time, as well as the introduction of an expanded summer learning program that will focus on credit recovery, supports for vulnerable students and course upgrading.
"Right now we don't see a need at this moment to extend the school year," said Lecce. "We are looking at enhancing summer educational programming for parents and of course, we are looking at additional measures that can be taken for next year to make sure that the educational integrity of a student is sound."
Boards will be tasked with finding solutions at local levels in keeping with the provincial government's direction while upholding collective agreement obligations.
Private schools, First Nation schools, licensed child care centres and EarlyON programs will remain closed until May 6, with certain exceptions for licenced care, under an emergency order made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which only allows closures to be extended for 14 days at a time.
