Colorado school districts bring some kids back to classrooms

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Southern Colorado district leaders are hopeful they’ll be able to keep some consistency this semester; especially with the continual roll-outs of vaccines.

Educators are expected to receive their vaccinations in Phase 1B, but it could be a lengthy process. According to the Colorado Department of Education, there are over 55,000 teachers in Colorado.

In the meantime, districts are making it a priority to bring students back into the classroom, with elementary students starting January 19th.

All of Colorado Springs School District 11’s elementary school students are returning to campus. Middle school and high school students are partly coming back; secondary students will continue on a hybrid learning model for the spring 2021 semester.

Harrison District 2 is also bringing all of their elementary school students back to campus, as well as students in sixth, ninth, and 12th grade.

Grades 8 and 10 will return to campus on February 1, followed by seventh and 11th graders on February 22.

In Pueblo District 70, all middle and elementary school students will return to in-person learning. District 70 high schools will begin their hybrid model next Tuesday, January 25th.

District 60 brought back elementary school students four days a week on January 19. Their middle school students and high school students will stay on a hybrid model for the remainder of the spring semester.

The State Department of Public Health and Environment has scaled back its quarantine guidelines for schools. In the event that a student or teacher needs to quarantine, they’ll have to stay out for 10 days instead of 14.

District leaders are hopeful this change in protocol will keep their students and staff in the classrooms longer, if not for good.