Boston to start the school year with remote learning only

School Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced the move in e-mail to parents today - and said that even when in-school education resumes, it will be phased in over a month starting on Oct. 19 - with high schoolers not scheduled to return to actual classrooms until Nov. 19.

I and Mayor Walsh have listened to and consulted with public health experts, teachers and staff, city officials, and gathered feedback from thousands of community members in dozens of virtual meetings. With this input, BPS has decided that all students will begin the school year learning remotely. We will responsibly and safely phase into the hybrid model of learning starting Thursday, October 1. The hybrid model allows students to learn in person two days a week and learn remotely three days a week. Families with students who have not opted in to the hybrid model, and plan to learn remotely five days a week, will not lose their spot.

Remote schooling begins Sept. 21. Then comes a plan for hybrid learning, in which students go to their actual schools only part-time, with remote learning the rest:

• Thursday, October 1: Students with the highest needs
• Thursday, October 15 (B) & Monday, October 19 (A): Grades K0, K1, K2
• Thursday, October 22 (B) & Monday, October 26 (A): Grades 1 - 3
• Thursday, November 5 (B) & Monday, November 9 (A): Grades 4 - 8 (secondary schools start grades 6 - 8)
• Monday, November 16 (A) & Thursday, November 19 (B): Grades 9 - 12