Gov. Kate Brown abruptly announced new rules for reopening schools Wednesday afternoon, making former directives optional and allowing districts to open if they follow safety precautions.
Gov. Kate Brown abruptly announced new rules for school re-openings on Wednesday afternoon, making former directives optional and allowing districts to open if they follow safety precautions.
The surprise announcement, the day before Christmas Eve, leaves decision up to districts
Gov. Kate Brown abruptly announced new rules for school re-openings on Wednesday afternoon, making former directives optional and allowing districts to open if they follow safety precautions.
In a letter to health and education agencies, she said effective Jan. 1, 2021, Oregon s COVID-19 Health Metrics for Returning to In-Person Instruction will become advisory rather than mandatory. Moving forward, the decision to resume in-person instruction must be made locally, district by district school by school.
But the announcement does not mean schoolhouse doors will be thrown open to all students right away. Districts have to plan for students to come back and only a few groups of students will likely be sitting in classrooms for the first months of opening.