In response to recently released state guidance that allows elementary students to return to the classroom in January regardless of local COVID infection rates, area school districts are planning to welcome elementary students back in-person and aiming to have secondary students learn in a hybrid model.
Under the new state guidance, rates of COVID transmission in counties are not the central piece of information school districts must consider in deciding which learning model to implement for elementary students. Elementary schools are allowed to resume in-person classes so long as they follow certain COVID precautions. The infection rates still apply to decisions regarding whether middle and high school students may return to the classroom.