Dear Team DPS,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a healthy and enjoyable winter break. And as we start the second semester, I want to provide a brief update on our plans to open up our school buildings and return to in-person learning.
We are starting the second semester with 100% remote learning at all schools as we work toward getting our schools ready to open for our students. Over the course of the break, we have remained in close contact with our partners at Denver Health to stay updated on COVID conditions.
We remain on track to transition to in-person learning according to the schedule that we shared with you last month: (Please note that DPS will continue to offer, throughout the second semester, the 100% remote-learning option for all K-12th grade students whose families chose that option.)
Jan. 11:
- All ECE-5th grade students, including SPED Centers and Newcomer Center students, return to in-person.
- All secondary SPED Centers and Newcomer Centers return to in-person.
- Other secondary students continue in remote learning.
Jan. 19-29:
- Other secondary students begin gradual phase-in to in-person learning.
- Schools bring secondary students back at their own pace, including health and safety orientation days to help students acclimate to the required health protocols for in-person learning.
- Some of our smaller high schools may be able to return to in-person five days a week, while some of our larger schools may return on a hybrid schedule. This is based on the latest guidelines from our health partners on how many students can be in the same group, or cohort.
Feb. 1:
- All students whose families selected in-person learning are back in schools.
Over the next two days, we have a series of meetings planned with all of the partners that we’ve been collaborating with throughout the pandemic -- health experts, our school leaders, our educators, and district leadership. I will share an update later in the week as we discuss the latest COVID developments, develop our plan for obtaining and distributing the COVID vaccine to our educators, and finalize the details of reopening our schools.
As always, thank you for your patience and understanding. I hope you have a great start to the second semester, and we’re so looking forward to seeing our students back in our schools soon.
Sincerely,
Dwight Jones
Interim Superintendent
