Tacoma special ed kids headed back to in-person class. What about other students?
Most Tacoma students will remain in remote learning “for now” after the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department told school districts this week to pause their plans for in-person learning, Tacoma Public Schools said in an update to families Friday.
The update added that starting Oct. 5, the district will work on a “gradual roll out” of classes for elementary special education students in self-contained classrooms. Some elementary students on individualized education programs (IEPs) have been learning in contained classes.
“As classrooms and staff are properly equipped and ready to start face-to-face instruction, we will notify families about their student’s exact start date for in-person learning,” the district stated Friday.
The update comes after the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued an alert to all Pierce County school districts Thursday, highlighting concerns about increasing trends in COVID-19 cases across the county.
“The number of cases could soon rise so high that Dr. Anthony Chen, director of health, may order all school districts to return to full remote learning,” Tacoma Public Schools told families.
Last week, Tacoma abruptly rescinded its plans to return to in-person learning on Sept. 28 for preschool and kindergarten students, citing confusion around state masks requirements. In a school board meeting on Sept. 24, district staff said they were expecting new guidance from the state to help clarify which masks are required for specific school district roles.
That guidance was released to schools earlier this week and details which masks are required for specific tasks, from teachers to bus drivers to food service workers.
“It’s extremely helpful to school districts, and it provides the more detailed information we were seeking last week,” Tacoma Public Schools spokesperson Dan Voelpel said in an email to The News Tribune on Thursday.
The district will have more information the week of Oct. 5 about in-person instruction plans for middle school and high school special education students in self-contained classes.
