KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Elementary students in Olathe Public Schools will return to the classroom full-time later this month, the district said Wednesday.
Beginning Sept. 28, all elementary and early childhood students will begin in-person learning five days a week, the district said in a note to parents.
The transition to full in-person learning only applies to families who registered their students for that option. Those who chose the remote learning option will not be affected and will stay online through the end of the semester.
Currently, elementary students with the in-person option are attending school two days a week under a hybrid model.
The decision to bring those students back full-time follows gating criteria recommendations set for schools by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. The county is seeing a decrease in cases and a current positivity rate of 12.1%, which puts it in the "red" category. In that category, elementary students are allowed to attend school in-person with opening guidelines in place.
Olathe elementary students and staff will need to follow safety guidelines at school to stem the spread of COVID-19, which includes wearing a mask, regular hand washing and social distancing “to the greatest extent possible,” the district said.
Plans for middle and high school students will be considered at the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 1. Additional information for those students will be provided after that meeting.
Like other Johnson County districts, older students in Olathe Public Schools began the school year remotely.
“We know this year hasn’t been ideal, but we are grateful for the support of our community as we work to navigate this new and challenging situation,” Olathe Public Schools said in its note to families. “We’re excited to welcome all elementary and early childhood learners back to their classrooms full time on September 28.”
The decision comes after other districts in Johnson County, including Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley, also announced plans for younger students to return to in-person learning.
