Dear Families,

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. I am writing to you today with an exciting update: we will be reopening our high schools for in-person learning on Monday, March 22, 2021.

Since the beginning of the school year, I have heard from many of you who are eager to have your child return to a physical classroom. I know you and your child have seen their peers in other grades return to in-person learning, while your student has continued to do the hard work of remote learning. I am so pleased that we can now invite students in grades 9-12 who selected blended learning in the fall back to the classroom.

As students and staff in other grades have returned to school buildings, we have developed strong practices to help keep school communities healthy and safe, and to maximize in-person learning time for students learning in our buildings. More information about activities, such as sports and extracurriculars, will be shared soon. For now, here is what you need to know about how your school will return to in-person learning:

Weekly COVID-19 Testing and Mandatory Consent

Those of you who chose blended learning as your child’s learning preference, either prior to the beginning of the school year or during the November opt-in period, will soon be contacted by your child’s school with their new schedule.

If you previously selected blended learning but wish to stay fully remote, you may do so by changing your preference as soon as possible at nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference.

Attendance

Please note that students in blended learning are required to attend in-person on a consistent basis. Your school will reach out if your child is not attending in-person regularly, and will transition your child to fully remote learning if irregular in-person attendance continues. This will allow schools to maximize in-person instructional days for students who are attending in-person.

If You Travel

Spring break begins on Monday, March 29. Please remember that students and staff who have recently traveled outside of New York to a place on the State’s travel advisory list must quarantine for 10 days, or test out of the 10-day quarantine based on the State’s guidance, which can be found at coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

• DOE students continue to have access to priority testing at H+H sites across the city; a list of sites can be found at CoVid Testing.

No matter where your child is learning, we are committed to ensuring they receive a strong, supportive education. We know how important school is for your student, whether blended or remote—and our dedication to them remains unwavering during this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Carranza
Chancellor
New York City Department of Education

COVID-19 Testing for Students and Staff