UPDATED: Raimondo Announces Rhode Island Schools to Open August 31
GoLocalProv News Team
UPDATED: Raimondo Announces Rhode Island Schools to Open August 31
"It will look different," said Raimondo, who added the following:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST- There will be fewer kids on buses
- Masks are likely to be worn
- Desks will be further apart
- No one can go to school sick
According to RIDE:
A key to the reopening is a statewide calendar for all public school districts to use during the 2020-2021 academic year. The calendar is a dynamic planning tool, which RIDE will update and share throughout the school year in response to the unfolding public health situation. It will provide consistency to families and students, while also enabling educators and school systems to collaborate on activities like shared professional development.
“We are planning for a safe, in-person return to school this fall,” said Raimondo. “The first step comes today, with our new statewide school calendar. This gives us a solid foundation to ensure our students are back in their classrooms as soon as possible, while providing the flexibility we need to quickly respond to changing circumstances. We are moving forward on all fronts to make sure school opens on time.”
“The entire Rhode Island education community stepped up to make distance learning happen on short notice this year, and for that we should be extremely proud,” said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “We are working to develop a range of options to help schools open, make sure students learn, and safeguard their health and safety. By putting all our school systems on a common calendar, we will be able to provide the high levels of support and coordination we need no matter what the future brings.”
RIDE is working with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to develop a continuum of school-reopening scenarios, which balance prioritizing the health and safety of school communities with providing in-person instruction as soon as possible. RIDE will be providing guidance to districts, charters and state-run schools next week to help them develop their own individual back-to-school plans. Those plans will be submitted to RIDE for review and implementation support.
Highlights of the statewide 2020-21 school year calendar include:
All Rhode Island public schools will begin on August 31, 2020.
All Rhode Island students and teachers will have a Winter vacation from February 15 through 19, 2021.
All Rhode Island students and teachers will have a Spring vacation from April 19 through 23, 2021.
The following days will be statewide professional development days: September 21, October 19, November 16, December 14, January 25, March 15, April 12, and May 17. Those days will be distance learning days for students.
Snow days will still be determined at the district level, and school will be held via distance learning.
Graduations can be held by high schools any time after their 170th day of instruction, which is expected to be June 2.
The statewide school year for students will end on the 180th day of instruction, which is expected to be June 16, 2021. School systems may choose to add instructional days to their calendar beyond the 180-day required statewide calendar.
While RIDE encourages private schools to follow the statewide calendar, those decisions will be made at the school level.