State Board update | The State Board of Education met virtually on Monday to adopt new guidance for schools following an agreement last week between the governor and legislative leaders. That agreement led to legislation which requires all elementary schools to return students to school with minimal social distancing (plan A) and allows middle and high schools to choose between plan A and plan B — a hybrid approach that typically combines in-person with remote learning and requires six feet of social distancing. Full remote learning for all students is no longer an option, except under very specific circumstances. Individual families can choose remote instruction for their children, however.

The legislation has already passed the General Assembly and been signed by Gov. Roy Cooper.

The guidance adopted by the State Board says that schools operating in plan A must have students in school at least four days a week. Any students wanting to return to classrooms must be allowed to do so by April 1 at the latest. See the guidance adopted by the State Board here.

According to the presentation during the State Board meeting, because charter schools were not included in the legislation last week, charter schools cannot return students in grades 6-12 under plan A, only plan B.

PBS NC update | Classroom Connection lessons will air on PBS NC at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekday mornings, with math lessons on Mondays, literacy lessons on Tuesdays, and repeat lessons on Thursdays and Fridays. Click here to see the schedule for March 15-19.

• One of the fairest school funding models in the nation might be about to fail

  The Hechinger Report | March 14, 2021

• Excited but nervous: Cumberland students, parents, teachers glad to share emotional return to the classroom

  WRAL | March 15, 2021

• Three Feet or Six? Distancing Guideline for Schools Stirs Debate

  New York Times | March 16, 2021

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