DANVILLE, Va. – Gov. Ralph Northam has announced a plan to extend the school year into the summer due to time lost this year as a result of the pandemic.

He is expected to outline details of his proposal during a Friday news conference but told the Washington Post Thursday that he plans to extend the school year to make up for lost time to COVID-19.

Northam said his administration will be calling for the extension in hopes of helping students get caught up from any setbacks they may have encountered during the traditional school year. The governor said his staff is “working with our teachers, our school boards, our superintendents,” adding that “It has to be a top priority for all of us to get our children back in the classroom.”

Details of the plan are expected to be announced during an 11 a.m. press conference Friday.