LANSING, Mich. (AP) — For the first time, the state of Michigan is planning to close public schools for academic reasons.

The Michigan School Reform Office said Friday that 38 schools are failing and subject to closure. Some of those schools could stay open if state officials decide closure would pose an unreasonable hardship for students with no better available options.

More than half of the 38 schools are in Detroit. The others are in Benton Harbor, Bridgeport, East Detroit, Kalamazoo, Pontiac, River Rouge and Saginaw.

The schools in Benton Harbor that might close are the International Academy at Hull, Dream Academy and Steam Academy at MLK, according to 95.3 MNC’s reporting partners at ABC 57.

The law allows for state-ordered closures if chronically underperforming schools have not improved despite receiving other forms of intervention.

The closure option has not been used before.