Maryland lays out plan for transitioning students back to in-person learning.

Return to class: Maryland lays out plan for transitioning students back to in-person learning.

Schools will remain closed through the 2020 academic year, but the State Superintendent says now is the time to make plans to transition back to in-person learning.

'Maryland Public Schools have released a first look at what students returning to classrooms could look like post coronavirus. The state's 54-page "Recovery Plan for Education" offers numerous strategies for how to safely bring students back, while maintaining social distancing. No matter what strategy schools adopt, one thing is for sure: classrooms are going to look very different.

he recovery plan is meant to be a baseline resource for the state's 24 school systems as they begin creating their own recovery plans, according to State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon. Schools in Maryland will remain closed through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, with students not able to fully return to classrooms until the final phase of Gov. Larry Hogan's three-phase reopening plan. But MPS said now is the time to map out what the transition from online learning to in-person instruction will entail.

"Remote learning cannot replace students’ experiences with their teachers, administrators, and support staff," Salmon said. "We must all unite in our efforts to maintain equitable learning opportunities and safely return students to their schools."

The "new normal" for school districts will likely include:

mandatory masks

daily temperature checks

enhanced/more frequent cleaning procedures and sanitation methods

enforced social distancing, especially for elementary students in areas like playgrounds.

Class sizes are likely to be reduced so that all desks can be kept six feet apart, and schools may choose to host classes outdoors or in large, open spaces like gyms or cafeterias. Some classes or meetings that involve hands-on instruction (art, PE, parent-teacher conferences) may be hosted virtually, and large school gatherings (assemblies, school dances) may be reduced or canceled.'>>>

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