Students must continue online learning amid school closures, Washington leaders say

After simply encouraging schools to give parents and students a plan for online learning, the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction now says school districts must supply guidelines to keep kids educated while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first time the state has mandated some form of educational instruction. Schools must continue teaching students in some format by March 30, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said Monday.

The guidelines are broad, but they provide a sample plan for how schools should structure learning at-home. Districts must design weekly plans for students that show students have equitable access to online materials and a way to monitor their progress, according to the superintendent’s new guidelines.

State education officials also offered a long list of free virtual tools for teachers, students and parents, which is categorized by subject area. The State Legislature also passed a new law allowing schools to waive certain graduation requirements, Stephanie Davidsmeyer, spokesperson for the Washington State Board of Education, said in a news release.

“Under the emergency waiver program, public school districts, charter schools, and tribal compact schools will be able to apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver of certain high school graduation requirements. To get the waiver, schools and districts must demonstrate a good faith effort to address core course requirements and credit deficiencies,” the release states. “In addition, the State Board of Education may waive credit-based graduation requirements and school day and instructional hour requirements for private schools.”

Many districts already moved to some form of remote learning, and some already had plans to do so, according to Bellevue, Seattle and White River school districts. But other districts, such as Tacoma Public Schools, said they would rely on the superintendent’s instructions before continuing education programs, The News Tribune previously reported.

But the superintendent’s office now says that will not be sufficient, as school closures could last beyond April.

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 12:27 PM.