Washington schools expected to reopen for in-person learning this fall

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction released its initial guidance Thursday for the reopening of schools in the fall.

“To be very clear, it is my expectation that schools will open this fall for in-person instruction,” Superintendent Chris Reykdal said.

The guidance is specific to K-12 public and private schools, regardless of what phase of the county is in under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan.

On March 13, Inslee ordered a six-week closure of schools during the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools were then required to remain closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year.

Some of the guidelines in the plan include:

• Districts should establish plans for rapid transitions between face-to-face and continuous remote learning.
• Communicate regularly with families and staff, and emphasize the importance of staying home when sick, physical distancing of 6 feet and hand hygiene.
• All students, staff, volunteers and guests must wear cloth face coverings in K-12 settings.
• Check for signs of illness for all staff and students at entry each day.
• Develop a system for drop-off and pick-up that keeps families at least 6 feet from each other and reduces their need to enter the school.

To read more of the plan from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, click here.

There will be additional guidance over the next several weeks.

“It is imperative that students get as much face-to-face time with their educators and peers as possible. Schools should plan to operate in the fall with in-person instruction consistent with health requirements, and meet the 180-day and 1,027 instructional hour requirements,” Reykdal said. “Schools should use the guidance on continuous learning to inform service delivery only if school facilities must close again.”

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