New York City schools, with 1.1 million students, will stay closed for rest of year

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Saturday that the city’s school district, the largest in the U.S., will remain closed for the rest of the school year.

The city’s vast school system serves over 1.1 million students in 1,800 schools.

“It’s not an easy decision but it’s the right decision,” the mayor said. “It clearly will help us save lives.”

To help ensure continued learning, de Blasio said the city will continue to distribute about 240,000 internet-enabled devices to students who need them.

This is a developing story; please check back for updates.