After delaying its return to the classroom after Hamilton County once again turned red on the state’s Public Health Advisory System last week, Cincinnati Public Schools has made the decision to start phasing students in to a blended learning model on Oct. 12.
The blended learning model divides students into two groups: Group A and Group B. Days that Group A is in school, Group B will be learning remotely and vice versa. All students will attend school remotely on Mondays.
According to CPS, the transition back to in-school learning will happen as follows starting the week of Oct. 12:
- Preschool and specialized classrooms: Monday distance learning; Tuesday-Friday in-person class.
- K-2; Montessori grade 3: Monday distance learning; Group A in person Tuesday and Wednesday; Group B in person Thursday and Friday.
- Grades 7-8: Monday distance learning; Group A in person Tuesday and Wednesday; Group B in person Thursday and Friday.
Starting the week of Oct. 19:
- Grades 3-6: Monday distance learning; Group A in person Tuesday and Wednesday; Group B in person Thursday and Friday.
- Grades 9-12: Monday distance learning; Group A in person Tuesday and Wednesday; Group B in person Thursday and Friday.
Walnut Hills High School will continue on a five-day remote learning plan due to its size and inability to divide students into small enough groupings for a blended learning model.
“Going forward, CPS will use additional flexibility and allow for either blended or distance learning when Hamilton County is in red status according to the State of Ohio Public Health Advisory System. This will allow for additional analysis of community health data to determine the safety risk associated with in-person learning,” reads a release from CPS.
CPS is also looking at a plan to allow students to “distance” learn from their actual schools and will be sending out forms regarding that option to parents this week. Students can also still enroll in the Cincinnati Digital Academy for a full-time remote learning option.
For more info, visit cps-k12.org/news/backtoschool.
This article appears in The Fall Guide.