Here’s how each school district in the metro is holding classes this fall
[MGN Images/ Pixabay]
On July 30, Gov. Tim Walz unveiled Minnesota’s plan for reopening public schools. Districts are able to design their own plans based on the rate of active COVID-19 cases in the counties they serve.
Each district had to prepare safe learning plans according to Minnesota Department of Health guidelines for in-person, hybrid and remote learning in the event a COVID-19 outbreak forces schools to change course in the middle of the academic year. All districts are required to offer online-only learning as an option.
MAP: Data for K-12 schools by COVID-19 case rate
Here is how school districts around the Twin Cities metro area are planning to start the 2020-21 school year. Be sure to check each school’s website for the latest information:
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Grades K-5 will have in-person classes every day. All other students will have hybrid learning schedules with two days of in-person classes and three days of remote learning each week.
Anoka-Hennepin School District
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two cohorts and have in-person classes twice a week and virtual learning three days a week. Middle and high school students will be distance learning for the first two weeks of school and transition to the hybrid model Sept. 28.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Elementary school students will have in person-classes five days a week. All other students will be split into two groups for a hybrid learning schedule of two days of in-person classes, two days of remote classes and one flex day each week.
- Distance learning model: The Bloomington School Board approved a switch from hybrid learning to dsitance learning in its Aug. 17 meeting.
Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Students in grades K-5 will have in-person classes every day. Grades 6-12 will be split into two cohorts based on last names and will alternate in-person learning days Monday through Thursday; all students will learn remotely on Fridays.
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District
- Hybrid learning model: Pre-K-Grade 2 will have in-person class four days a week and distance learning one day a week; all other students will have in-person classes two days a week and distance learning on other days. Students in preschool, kindergarten and first, sixth and ninth grades will start the school year with hybrid learning on Sept. 10; all other students will start the school year with distance learning and transition to hybrid on Sept. 28.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Elementary students will be at school every day. Middle and high school students will have hybrid learning schedules with two days of in-person classes and three days of remote learning.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups and have in-person classes two days a week and remote classes on other days.
Columbia Heights Public Schools
- Modified hybrid learning model: Most students will be learning remotely with some small groups learning in-person based on student need and staffing considerations. Students with special needs, English learners, the youngest students and seniors may be considered.
- In-person learning: The school district has been permitted to have all students return for in-person classes according to MDH guidelines.
- In-person/hybrid model: PreK-Grade 6 students will start the school year in-person, and grades 7-12 will learn via a hybrid model. In the hybrid model, students will be split into two groups based on last names and attend in-person classes two days a week; classes will be held remotely on other days.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Kindergarten and first grade students will hold in-person classes in a socially distanced environment. All other students will have in-person classes two days a week and remote learning the other three days.
- In-person/hybrid model: Pre-kindergarten and elementary students will have in-person classes. All other students will learn via a hybrid model with two days of in-person instruction and three days of distance learning per week.
Farmington Area Public Schools
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups, and each will have in-person classes two days a week, virtual learning two days a week and one "flexible instruction" day.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups and have in-person classes two days a week and remote classes the other three days.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Elementary students will all have in-person instruction. Secondary students in grades 7-12 will learn under a hybrid model in which two groups alternate days of in-person and virtual instruction.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups by family, and each will have in-person classes two days a week, virtual learning two days a week and one "flexible instruction" day.
- Hybrid learning model: Kindergarten and first grade students will have in-person classes four days a week and one day of virtual learning. Grades 2-6 classes two days will have in-person classes two days a week and remote classes on other days. Grades 7-12 will stay in a distance learning model for up to four weeks before switching to a hybrid model.
Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Public Schools
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Students from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade will come to school for class each day. Students in grades 7-12 will have either two or three days of in-person learning, depending on the week, and learn remotely on other days.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups, and each will have in-person classes two days a week, virtual learning two days a week and one "flexible instruction" day.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Students in grades K-6 will have in-person classes five days a week. Grades 7-12 will have two days of in-person learning, two days of remote learning and one "flex" learning day each week.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups by family, and each will have in-person classes two days a week and virtual learning three days a week.
- Hybrid learning model: Elementary schools will have four days of in-person learning and one day of distance learning each week; secondary school students will have two days of in-person learning and three days of distance learning each week.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Students in grades K-8 will have in-person classes five days a week. High schoolers will have a hybrid learning model with at least two days of in-person classes a week and rotating between in-person and online classes on Fridays depending on the week.
- Distance learning model: All students will start classes online.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Kindergarten through third grade students will be in their home schools for normal in-person classes. Fourth and fifth grade students will have classes at the high school four days a week, with one day a week remote. Middle school students will be split into two groups and have in-person classes two days a week and virtual classes on other days. High school students will have virtual classes four days a week and meet in person once a week for elements of the curriculum that cannot easily be done at home.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Grades K-5 will have in-person classes every day. All other students will have hybrid learning schedules with two days of in-person classes and three days of remote learning each week.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups, which will alternate in-person instruction days from Monday through Thursday. Each group will have in-person learning on Fridays every other week.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups with two permanently assigned in-person learning days and two remote learning days; the groups will alternate between in-person and online classes each Wednesday.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: PreK through fifth grade will return to in-person learning with as much social distance as possible. All other students will be split into two groups and have in-person classes two days a week and virtual learning three days a week.
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale
- Hybrid learning model: All students will begin with distance learning. Elementary students will transition to hybrid learning with two days of in-person classes starting Week 3 (Sept. 14), and secondary students will begin the hybrid model in Week 5 (Sept. 28).
- In-person/hybrid learning model: All elementary school students will be at school each day and will have a blend between their core classroom and video conferencing with a companion classroom. Middle school and high school students will be split into two groups and alternate between remote and in-person classes Monday-Thursday; in-person classes will be held every other Friday for each group.
- Hybrid learning model: The Osseo School District is set to start the school year with a distance learning model for the first two weeks of school and switch to a hybrid learning model the week of Sept. 28. In the hybrid model, students will be split into two groups and have two days of in-person classes and three days of classes from home.
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups, and each will have in-person classes two days a week, virtual learning two days a week and one "flexible instruction" day.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Elementary school students will resume in-person classes five days a week. Middle and high school students will have a hybrid model in which grades 7-9 and grades 10-12 will alternate weeks of in-person and distance learning.
- Hybrid learning model: Preschoolers will be in school two to three half days each week; grades K-2 will be in school four days a week; grades 3-5 will be in school two days a week; and grades 6-12 will be in school one day each week. Students will have remote learning on other days.
- Distance learning plus model: Students will engage in classes and conduct learning remotely. Learning includes direct teacher instruction and independent student work, with a combination of virtual meetings, interactive class sessions and pre-recorded videos.
- In-person/hybrid model: Students from PreK-grade 4 will have daily in-person classes, while all other students will learn via a hybrid model. These students will be split into two cohorts, which will attend classes at school twice a week and learn remotely three days a week.
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools
- Hybrid learning model: In the hybrid model, all students (pre K-12) will be in school two days each week, in two cohorts of approximately half the class, and distance learning the other days of the week.
- Distance learning model: The Roseville School Board voted on Aug. 18 to switch from a hybrid model to starting the school year with distance learning for all grades.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups that will rotate between in-person and online classes each school day. Kindergarten students will have in-person classes five days a week.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: All kindergarten and first grade students will meet in-person five days a week. Grades 2-12 will be split into two groups based on last name; each will learn two days a week in-person and three days from home.
- Hybrid learning model: The school year will start with a four-week soft opening to transition into hybrid learning. All students will start with two weeks of distance learning, and secondary school students will continue for a third week of distance learning. All students will attend school via the hybrid model by the week of Oct. 5; sixth graders will start hybrid learning on Sept. 28.
South Washington County Schools
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups by family, and each will have in-person classes two days a week, virtual learning two days a week and one "flexible instruction" day.
Stillwater Area Public Schools
- Hybrid learning model: Elementary school students will have in-person classes two days a week and distance learning three days a week. Middle school students will have distance learning only through Oct. 14 and will transition to the hybrid learning model starting Oct. 20. High school students will take just three classes for Quarter 1 and meet in-person two times a week; courses switch for Quarter 2.
St. Cloud Area School District
- Hybrid learning model: Pre-kindergarteners will be in school two days a week. Grades K-2 will have in-person classes four days a week with distance learning on Fridays. All other students will be split into two groups and have in-person classes two days a week and three days of distance learning. Students who need special accommodations may attend school four days a week with distance learning on Fridays.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups by family and will have two days of in-person classes and three days of remote learning each week.
- Hybrid learning model: All students will begin the school year via distance learning. Second grade and younger will move to a hybrid model starting on Sept. 28, and all other students will transition to hybrid learning on Oct. 5.
- Distance learning model: All students will start classes online. The school district could work toward a plan for in-person instruction later this fall.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Kindergarten through fifth grade students will go to class at school in "learning pods" in which two classrooms of students are split into three learning spaces. Sixth grade and up will have a hybrid model that splits students into two groups; all students will have two days of in-person learning and three days of online learning.
Watertown Mayer Public Schools
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Elementary students will learn at school five days a week. All other students will be split into two groups, each of which will have in-person classes two days a week and remote learning on other days.
- Hybrid learning model: Students in grades K-8 will be split into two groups, and each will have in-person classes two days a week and virtual learning three days a week. Most high school students will have all of their classes online, the exception being students who have courses that rely heavily on a hands-on component. Those students will learn via a hybrid model with two days of in-person learning.
- In-person/hybrid learning model: Primary school students from kindergarten through fourth grade will start the year with in-person learning. Students in grades 4-12 will go with a hybrid learning model in which students are split into two groups and have in-person classes twice a week and distance learning the other three days.
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District
- Phased-in hybrid learning model: The week of Sept. 8, new students to the district and students in grades 5 and 9 will have half-day orientation. The week of Sept. 14, kindergarten students and families will attend orientation activities and all other students will begin distance learning. Early learning and kindergarten students start the hybrid model on Sept. 21, and over the next several weeks, all other grades will be phased in pending school board approval at special meetings. A full timeline is available in the link above.
- Hybrid learning model: Students will be split into two groups, and each will have in-person classes two days a week and virtual learning three days a week.