Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman wrote a letter on August 3, 2020, to Grand Canyon State Residents expressing her view that, due to the still high numbers of COVID 19 cases across the state, in-person instruction should not commence on August 17, 2020.
In the letter, Superintendent Hoffman relayed:
“I want to make clear that Arizona is not currently in a place to resume traditional in-person instruction or hybrid learning models. Every indicator shows that there is a high community spread across the state. As school leaders, we should prepare our families and teachers for the reality that it is unlikely that any school community will be able to reopen safely for traditional in-person or hybrid instruction by August 17th. Our state is simply not ready to have all our students and educators congregate in school facilities. If we want to return to in-person instruction, every Arizonan must make it their mission to slow the spread of this virus.”
Please click on the full letter below.
The Superintendent did reaffirm that designated critical service-learning sites for vulnerable students in need like special education and children on free and reduced lunch will be available.
This is wise advice that the larger Arizona school districts are following.
Hopefully, all will follow this guidance.
Please consult your local district to see what mode of instruction they will be offering for the beginning of the school year.