PHOENIX – Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order requiring schools to return to face-to-face classes with teachers by March 15 or after spring break.
Today, I am issuing a new Executive Order. It requires public schools to return to face-to-face classes with teachers by March 15 or after spring break. 5 /
– Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 3, 2021
Governor Ducey made the announcement on Wednesday saying the decision was made after discussions with public school leaders and in accordance with new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to metrics developed by the CDC, 12 of Arizona’s 15 counties are in stages where all schools are safe to open, including in the state’s two largest counties, Maricopa and Pima.
“Arizona students need to be back in the classroom. More than half of Arizona’s schools are open and offer face-to-face options. More schools need to follow their example and pave the way for equitable education options for all students in Arizona, ”said Governor Ducey. “The CDC and several health officials have said repeatedly that schools are safe and children can return to the classroom. We prioritize teachers in our vaccine distribution and many have already received their second dose. The science is clear: it is time for all children to have the option to go back to school so they can get back on track and we can close the performance gap. “
According to the order, schools must return to face-to-face learning by March 15 or after spring break.
The Cartwright School District in Phoenix told parents on Wednesday night that it will comply with the governor’s order to offer face-to-face learning until March 15, despite an earlier vote to remain virtual for the rest of the year.
The district says there will be a special board meeting on Thursday at 5 pm to discuss next steps.
Governor Ducey’s office says an exception is made for elementary and high schools located in counties with “high” transmission of COVID-19, which currently includes the counties of Coconino, Yavapai and Pinal.
However, the CDC is clear that there is a safe path for all schools to open at any level of transmission and to remain open if they implement appropriate mitigation strategies. A student may continue to participate in the virtual instruction if their parent or guardian so decides.
The order updates the school reopening benchmarks developed and announced in August 2020, with the metrics recently developed by the CDC.
Metrics define “low”, “moderate”, “substantial” and “high” transmission levels with operational strategies for schools to reopen at all levels of transmission.
The Arizona Department of Education issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon in response to the governor’s order:
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) supports schools that use layered mitigation strategies to safely initiate or expand face-to-face learning, as Superintendent Hoffman said at a news conference last week. However, the timing of this announcement will be a challenge for some schools that had already made plans to return to face-to-face teaching at a different time due to the circumstances of the local community. As a state, we must collaborate to provide as much preparation and planning as possible before significant changes in school operations. To achieve the stability of our school communities, it is necessary to provide them with adequate time to inform and prepare their staff, students and families.
With this new Executive Order (EO 2021-04), our goal will be to provide schools with the necessary support to implement the requirements before the March 15 reporting date. ADE would like to clarify that Tribal Sovereignty is still in effect in relation to this new order – if a sovereign Tribal Nation issued an order to stay at home forcing students to remain in distance learning, the new executive order will not affect them.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Arizona schools have prioritized the safety and well-being of their school communities. This is no different in EO-2021-04. The Department is ready to support all schools as they promote safe teaching and learning environments.
When asked if there are any exceptions to the March 15 deadline, the governor’s office said: “The order is very clear. I will postpone this.”
As for any penalties, the governor’s office says it expects all districts to follow the order.