District 20’s 6th through 12th-grade students to start remote

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Academy District 20 has been working closely with the El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) to monitor COVID-19's impact and it's influence on reopening schools in El Paso County.

In a recent change, District 20 now will start the year in a remote, synchronous classroom environment 6th - 12th-grade students and

Colorado Springs' largest school district says that while it's their desire to return to school in-person, "we are part of the larger community and must
all do our part to control the spread of the virus. This is the most sustainable way to not only get back into the classroom but also stay in the classroom."

Secondary students, 6th - 12th graders, will start the year remotely and attend school in a remote synchronous environment. Students will log in to class from home and attend school classes as if they were in person. Students will follow their daily schedule, in real-time, and engage in a variety of classroom learning activities.

Teachers will take attendance and lead classroom activities for the duration of classes. The first day for students is August 24th.

District 20 says the tentative goal is to transition back to their Return to School Plan on September 14th. On this date, students will begin a hybrid, model, combined with a 100% synchronous option.

Tom Gregory, Superintendent of Schools, says, "We believe our Return to School Plan transitions well to remote learning for our secondary school learners and that we can smoothly and seamlessly transition back to the Return to School Plan once local COVID-19 data reaches or is trending toward acceptable levels."

With guidance and support from EPCPH, District 20 will implement the Return to School plan for all pre-K through 5th graders, with those students starting on August 24th. Students who are not choosing the 100% online option, will attend school in-person daily.

School officials add that this plan is subject to change and that they're aware of the frustration and anxiety created by continued changes. They also ask students to ensure safety, by avoiding large groups and maintaining proper social distancing as the school year approaches.