Seattle Schools Planning For In-Person Return, But May Go Remote

SEATTLE, WA — As of right now, Seattle Public Schools plan to reopen for in-person learning after winter break — but the district said it will switch to virtual schooling if needed.

In a news update posted Tuesday, officials said the district is preparing to return to school on Monday, Jan. 3, but asked parents to prepare their students "for the possibility of moving to remote learning."

"We recognize students learn best with teachers in the classroom and are planning to keep students and staff in schools," officials said in the update. "SPS is positioned, however, to transition classrooms (or schools) to remote instruction, if necessary, at some point in January."

Parents can help their students prepare by making sure their device is activated and updated (and by contacting schools if their student doesn't have a laptop or device), and by requesting a personal hotspot if needed.

Schools are also asking students to restart their SPS device prior to returning to school to ensure it is fully updated.

Officials said the number of COVID-19 cases in Seattle schools more than doubled in the week leading up to winter break, and the school's COVID-19 dashboard shows that during the week of Dec. 18-24, 82 students and 15 staff members tested positive.