Philly School District Moving To Hybrid Learning In February

PHILADELPHIA — Some students in the School District of Philadelphia will be returning to classrooms in about a month.

District Superintendent William Hite Jr. Wednesday said certain students will move to a hybrid learning model starting in late February.

Starting Feb. 22, roughly 9,000 prekindergarten through second-grade students will be in classrooms two days a week, according to Hite.

"In-person learning can phase in safely if we all do our part, remain patient and flexible, and plan ahead," Hite said in the announcement. "We will continue to share updates as we move closer to slowly and safely phasing our students back to in-person learning."

The district did not say when other students might return to in-person learning.

The hybrid model will have students in district buildings Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday. Wednesday's will be reserved for fully remote learning for all district students.

Families who wanted their students to be in the hybrid learning model last fall will have those students among the first back in classrooms. Families who chose to keep students fully digital last fall will have to keep those students in the full-virtual model for now.

District staff will begin preparing for students' return on Feb. 9, according to the district.

Measures being taken to ensure student and staff safety as the coronavirus continues to affect Philadelphians include PPE for students and staff, pre-screening, touchless hand sanitizing stations, and social distancing among others.

Additionally, all district schools' ventilation systems have been assessed. Any repairs and/or enhancements needed in the schools are being done so now, the district said. According to the district, rooms that cannot meet ventilation standards for any reason will not be used.