A school year like no other is coming to an end. But it’s not the end of Zoom school yet.
Nearly half of the 101 largest school districts in the US are planning to offer a fully remote option to at least some students when the 2021-22 school year begins in the fall. About a third of the districts – 32 total – will allow any student who wishes to take classes remotely to do so. An additional 14 districts will offer limited remote programs, either requiring school approval or a medical reason in order to qualify.
This comes despite the Biden administration and top health officials saying there’s no reason not to get kids back to in-person class.
Meanwhile, 21 districts will not offer a fully remote option and 13 are still undecided. Six districts have not yet responded to CNN on what their plan is for the fall.
In Texas, 15 districts are waiting for the state legislature to pass House Bill 1468, “which allows districts to provide a virtual learning option.” Some of those districts, including Houston Independent School District, plan to offer a virtual program if the bill passes.
Among the nation’s five largest districts, two will not offer a virtual option, and three will – showing just how split school officials are on completely ending what has been the primary learning format for America’s students for more than a year.
New York City, the nation’s largest district, will not have a remote option when the school year starts Sept. 13, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio. He said the progress in vaccinations and decrease in overall cases of Covid-19 are encouraging signs the school year can move forward with an all in-person plan.
“… You can’t have a full recovery without full-strength schools, everyone back sitting in those classrooms, kids learning again,” De Blasio said on MSNBC Monday.
Chicago, the third-largest, which saw its in-person start date shifted back several times due to threats of teacher strikes, will also not be offering remote learning to students.
“We are pleased that Illinois State Board of Education [ISBE] is guiding districts to provide five days a week of in-person instruction,” said Chicago Public School press secretary James Gherardi. “This is what the district has been working towards and there seems to be a consensus at all levels of government that opening schools full-time in the fall is a critical priority.”
The other three: Los Angeles Unified School District, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and Clark County School District in Nevada, will continue to offer a virtual option for students who wish to continue studying online.
“We expect the vast majority of students, teachers and staff to be at school every day but recognize that we must provide the online opportunity for those who need it,” Los Angeles Superintendent Austin Beutner announced on Monday,
Miami-Dade will offer three schooling options during the 2021-2022 school year. In addition to physical schooling, there will be two virtual education models: Miami-Dade Online Academy and Miami-Dade Virtual School, according to Chief Communications Officer Daisy Gonzalez-Diego.
“Beginning this Fall, Miami-Dade County Public Schools will open Miami-Dade Virtual School, the only virtual instruction program that is taught by M-DCPS teachers,” Gonzalez-Diego said.
In Clark County, Nevada, which saw a concerning rise in student suicides earlier this year, all remote requests will need principal approval.
“If a full-time distance education student begins to struggle, intervention meetings may be conducted with the student and parent/guardian, and the student may be required to attend school for face-to-face instruction,” the district’s May 24 announcement said.
CNN’s Alec Snyder contributed to this report.
