PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Students in Portland Public Schools will begin hybrid, in-person instruction April 1 after both the teachers union and the school board ratified a deal to return to classroom instruction during the coronavirus pandemic.
KOIN reports that by a 6-1 vote Thursday night, the PPS Board of Educatoin approved the plan for the youngest students - pre-school through 1st grade - to begin on April 1.
Students in 2nd through 5th grade would begin in-person instruction on April 5, while students in 6th through 12th grades will start the week of April 19.
The PPS Board of Education’s vote was the final step in students and teachers returning to class.
Board member Amy Kohnstamm was the sole “No” vote. She cited the rule that requires at least 6 feet of space between desks and said the CDC is expected to change that recommendation as early as this week.
“It makes an enormous difference for our kids because if we simply create the flexibility to adjust to a change in those physical distancing requirements we can double the amount in-person instruction time,” Kohnstamm said.
The Portland district is Oregon’s largest, with about 49,000 students.
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