BOSTON (WHDH) - The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has granted Boston Public Schools permission to delay its return to full-time, in-person learning, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced Wednesday.
Students in grades K-8 will not begin five days of in-person learning until April 26, three weeks later than the majority of schools in the Commonwealth, which are slated to begin on April 5 as required by the state, Cassellius said in a letter to the BPS community.
“BPS is the largest school district in the state. This updated timeline ensures that we have adequate time
to prepare facility and transportation modifications and allows us time to communicate information to
families in a timely manner,” Cassellius explained. In addition, every day more and more BPS staff members are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, which will help to make our school communities feel more safe and comfortable for students, staff and families.”
Cassellius added that the delayed timeline also gives educators time to plan for adjustments in
instruction due to students shifting learning models.
Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said that 90 percent of districts will have their elementary schools back fully in-person by April 5, but the state received waiver requests from 74 school districts seeking to delay full in-person learning, including Boston.
Boston students in grades 9-12 will return to class on hybrid learning schedule starting on Monday.
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