Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday afternoon that public school students will not return to the classrooms this school year.

Beginning April 6, the state will offer alternative learning methods of instruction. The state education superintendent is to complete that plan of instruction, Ivey said during a press conference.

“Local school districts will make staffing decisions and determinations related to access to school buildings” based on state health directives, Ivey said.

“We want to prevent a slide in students’ learning and achievement, and we are doing the best we can,” she said.

State Education Superintendent Eric Mackey said he believes graduation will be on time or close to it and the school year will end June 5.

Mackey said all spring sports and extracurricular activities are over.

The Internet will remain a major source of learning throughout the remainder of the school year, but Ivey said students who do not have broadband available will receive correspondence packages and help with assignments.

Mackey said his office is working diligently to put a plan of high-quality instruction in place for every student, including those with special needs.

“We hoped we would be able to welcome students back to school on April 6,” Ivey said, but, instead, instruction will continue in students’ homes.

“Local school districts will make staffing decisions and determinations related to access to school buildings” based on state health directives, Ivey said.

“This order was not made lightly but with tremendous concern,” Ivey said. “We must be serious. This is a for-real deadly situation. Stay home and limit interaction as much as possible.”

The state at 5 p.m. was reporting 517 COVID-19 cases and one death, of a man who lived in Jackson County. Dr. Scott Harris, director of the Alabama Department of Public Health, said during the press conference the state is investigating other deaths to determine whether they are COVID-19 related.

He said the median age of those struck with the virus is 47, with 75% of COVID-19 cases being among people who are aged 19 to 64.

“Coronavirus affects many different ages,” he said.