July 20, 2020 For Immediate Release
BALTIMORE — After nearly 60 days of focused planning and engagement with its students, families, employees, and stakeholders, Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) will open the 2020-2021 school year, delaying the start of the hybrid in-person option until later this fall. The district will continue to plan for a return to an in-person learning option later this fall and provide an update on our next steps no later than October 16.
“Using lessons learned from the spring and summer, we sought to balance very immediate health concerns with our mission as educators to support student learning, wholeness, and leadership. In addition to reflecting stakeholder feedback, we were determined that our plan be data-based, both in terms of COVID-19 and the disproportionate impact of distance learning on our most vulnerable students – while avoiding any influence from attempts to politicize this situation. We will continue to create options for learning environments that meet students’ needs by allowing them to safely engage in-person with the staff who care so deeply about their success.” said Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, chief executive officer of City Schools.
Since June 12, City Schools has engaged in the first phase of “Closing The Distance,” its effort to reopen school buildings for learning. The initial phase has included a series of data-based outreach to different stakeholder groups to obtain feedback and ideas. A review of that feedback and advice from health experts makes it evident that there is no one clear answer to approach school in this environment. Given that, we remain committed to identifying a range of options that safeguard the health and safety of our students and staff while ensuring the continued academic, social, and emotional development of our students.
City Schools is proposing to the Board of School Commissioners that the first day of school for students be Tuesday, Sept. 8, following the Labor Day weekend, to allow additional time before the start of the school year for professional learning for staff.
If the Board approves the proposed calendar change, City Schools teachers and 10-month staff will return to work on Wednesday, August 26, to prepare for a successful start to the new school year. The district will use this time, through Friday, Sept. 4, to provide teachers and support staff with professional development in virtual and hybrid learning. To compensate, the majority of previously scheduled professional development days for later in the year would become regular school days.
For more information on the Closing The Distance effort, including access to presentations given at the district’s virtual town halls over the last two weeks, visit www.baltimorecityschools.org/reopening.