Many people look forward to the big day -- graduation. But things are going to be different this year, especially for the seniors in the Troy and Southfield public school districts.

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 80,172 as of Wednesday, including 6,172 deaths, state officials report. However, the volume is far lower than it was in April when Michigan reported nearly 4,000 COVID-19 inpatients. On July 21, Michigan reported 500 inpatients at hospitals, the highest number since June 4 (50). Ann Arbor Public School students can anticipate returning to school virtually at the end of August. Ann Arbor Public School superintendent Jeanice Swift acknowledged how officials are “hardwired” for safety and that they must put student safety first.

Heres whats coming up on Local 4 News at 4:Southfield schools go virtual -- But offer option for working parentsThe Southfield Public School District plans to start the 2020 fall semester with remote learning due to a large number of COVID-19 cases in our region, the district announced.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. The Southfield Public School District plans to start the 2020 fall semester with remote learning due to a large number of COVID-19 cases in our region, the district announced. The school district describes its remote learning plan as follows:Students will begin the 2020-2021 academic year engaged in all-remote learning, similar to the final few months of the previous school year. Students will receive rigorous online instruction and support, and the same academic excellence that our in-person curriculum and teaching provides. Accountability measures for attendance, grades, and assessments apply.The district says students will automatically return to the hybrid model of instruction once all-remote learning has ended. The district also says it will offer a virtual-only learning option for families who do not yet feel comfortable having their students return to school when the district reopens for in-person learning.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. The Southfield Public School District, one of Metro Detroits largest districts, announce it will begin the 2020 fall semester with remote learning due to a large number of COVID-19 cases in our region, the district announced. Original story: Southfield Public School District to start school year with remote learning onlySouthfield Public School officials looked at the COVID-19 numbers, which jumped from a 2.4% infection rate to 5.4% infection rate in the community in less than a week. Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Green didnt just look at the infection rate, but at the Oakland County COVID-19 numbers of children under the age of 18. The district will go to a 100% remote learning model until the science says otherwise. It will not be face-to-face teaching, it will be child care and supervision for remote learning at the Birney K-8 facility on Evergreen.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. School districts across the state have been having conversations about what to do for the 2020-21 school year. READ: Heres what Michigan school districts have planned for the fall amid the pandemicOne Metro Detroit superintendent said shes especially concerned. Dr. Jennifer Green, the head of Southfield Public Schools, said her community has been hit very hard by COVID-19, but shes worried nearly half of her students dont have the technology to learn from home. READ MORE: Return to SchoolLocal 4s Paula Tutman spoke with her about the tough decisions ahead. You can watch Paula Tutmans story in the video above.