The school committee in Newton, Massachusetts has voted in favor of a reopening plan under which younger students will start the academic year using a hybrid model while older students will do so remotely.
Under the plan, students in grades 6 through 12 will start the school year under a fully-remote system; while pre-kindergarten through grade-5 students will have a hybrid learning model.
Newton's nine-member committee unanimously voted to finalize the plan with just under three weeks before school starts during a four-hour virtual meeting.
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The reopening procedure requires school districts to develop plans for a phased-in approach to bring students back into classrooms.
Each staff member will be provided with two reusable, washable cloth masks. Families will be expected to provide students with masks.
School districts across Massachusetts have been releasing plans for the 2020-2021 school year, a year which figures to start out -- at the very least -- unlike any other.
More Coverage on Reopening Schools During the Pandemic
Preliminary plans for hybrid, in-person and remote learning were due to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on July 31, while more comprehensive plans were due on Aug. 14. More than 30 districts have already said they plan to go online-only to start the school year.
NBC10 Boston has built a map of all the public school districts in the region. Some districts' plans are still being added, while some districts already listed on the map may announce their plans in the days ahead. Please check back frequently for the most up-to-date plans.
