Schools Expected to Return to Classroom Teaching in the Fall

Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal laid out the plans for students returning to the classroom in the fall during a Thursday press conference.

He says it will ultimately determined on a county-by-county level, but the plan is clear.

"Most districts are going to go back face-to-face in a traditional model. What I mean by traditional is that we get to go to school; we get to get on buses; and we get to engage in our education system as if it is 'normal.' It is going to have social distancing. It's going to have a face-covering requirement and hygiene protocols and some screening protocols as students come in."

A group of more than 120 educators, administrators, parents and students helped design the guidelines if schools cannot return to normal in the fall.

The group included members of the Cashmere, Lake Chelan and Moses Lake School Districts. Also, 12th District Rep. Mike Steele, 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins and 13th District Rep. Alex Ybarra.

Reykdal says the primary goal is to make sure the students and staff are safe.

"All districts will simultaneously plan a full open, which is our expectation, and the scenario where they have to shift back to continuous learning in a far more effective approach. But let me reiterate, we're opening this fall, provided it is safe."

OSPI has offered a document that details all the guidelines and the methods in which they arrived at them.

You can see the full press conference below: