Arlington Adopts Hybrid Model To Start School Year

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington will start the school year with a hybrid model following approval from the School Committee Monday night. The Committee voted 6-1 to adopt a hybrid plan, assuming that COVID-19 cases in Arlington and the state remain within allowable levels.

Families will have a remote learning option for their students, which they are asked to commit to by Aug. 20. The first day of school will be Sept. 21 with a phased-in program to acclimate students to the hybrid model. Meanwhile, most Arlington High School students will start the year remotely due to potential ventilation issues on parts of the campus.

High needs students will attend school in-person at least four days a week, and the APS elementary after-school program will follow the same hybrid model as the elementary school.

The hybrid plan splits the student population in half, with one group attending school on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesday will be a remote-only day for everyone.

Health and safety guidelines will be in place when students are in class, including appropriate spacing of desks, mask-wearing, handwashing and single-direction traffic flow. There will be frequent sanitizing of surfaces, and the district will utilize outdoor spaces for lessons and lunch whenever possible.

The Board of Health is developing a testing program for educators and staff before schools reopen. Results will be available within 24-36 hours, according to the plan.

A motion was approved to have the district provide more information to the School Committee, including what criteria would be used to change the learning model during the school year and when hybrid learning can begin at Arlington High School.

Click here to see the full reopening plan.