High school students in Aurora will continue remote learning through at least mid-November, with the school district veering away from its original plan for ninth to 12th graders to start a hybrid model of learning on Tuesday.
COVID-19 IN COLORADO
The latest from the coronavirus outbreak in Colorado:
- MAP: Cases and deaths in Colorado.
- TESTING: Here’s where to find a community testing site. The state is now encouraging anyone with symptoms to get tested.
- VACCINE HOTLINE: Get up-to-date information.
That means many students in two of Colorado’s largest school districts will continue the school year remotely. Denver Public Schools last week announced it would keep middle and high school students out of classrooms until Nov. 9 at the earliest, rather than returning to in-person learning on Wednesday as initially intended. Coronavirus cases have been increasing in Denver.
Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Rico Munn on Monday said cases of the virus also are increasing in Aurora.
High school students will remain remote through at least Nov. 13, he said in the statement. The district — which is Colorado’s fifth largest district — will make a decision about the next 20-day academic session by Nov. 9. If high schoolers head back to classrooms after the current academic session, they’ll start on Nov. 16.
Munn said the decision to delay high schoolers’ return to in-person classes was difficult.
The district, however, will continue offering in-person learning to high school students with special learning needs, including students with special needs, students who are just starting to learn English and students in career and technical education courses at Pickens Technical College, the statement noted.
High school athletes still will be able to attend scheduled off-season workouts, following guidance from the Colorado High School Activities Association.
☀ OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Students learning from home will also still have access to meals provided by schools, with meals available at 47 pick-up sites.
APS students in preschool through eighth grade returned to classrooms last week. The district will decide by Thursday whether those students will remain in classrooms or pivot to remote learning. The district is working with the Tri-County Health Department as it makes its decision, the statement said.
Middle school students in DPS are continuing the semester with coursework at home while elementary school students have been phased back to in-person learning. The district, which is continuing to bring its youngest students back, aims to have all elementary students whose families have selected in-person learning in classrooms by Wednesday.