Ducey Issues Executive Order Requiring Schools To Open

ARIZONA — Arizona teachers and students will be required to get back into the classroom soon.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order Wednesday requiring all schools statewide to reopen for in-person learning by March 15 or after spring break. Students will still be given the option to continue virtual learning. Until now, the decision to reopen has been left open to school districts.

“Arizona’s students need to be back in the classroom. More than half of Arizona’s schools are open and offering in-person options. More schools need to follow their lead, and pave the way for equitable education options for every Arizona student,” Ducey said in a statement.

Teachers and educators were included in prioritized Phase 1b of Arizona's coronavirus vaccination plan, which Ducey cited in his order for one reason to reopen. 12 of Arizona’s 15 counties are in phases where all schools are safe to open according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including in Maricopa and Pima Counties.

Exceptions will be made for middle and high schools in counties with high coronavirus transmission rates, which currently includes Coconino, Yavapai and Pinal Counties. Tribal nations will also be exempt if they have issued a stay-at-home order.

Under the modified CDC guidelines, face masks and social distancing will be essential when returning to the classroom, along with other mitigation strategies.

Richie Taylor, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Education, told Patch the department was informed about the order shortly before it was issued. He said Superintendent Kathy Hoffman is in full favor or returning to in-person learning, but the timing of the announcement doesn't leave schools a lot of time to prepare.

"The timing of this announcement will make it challenging for some schools that had already made plans to return to in-person instruction on a different schedule due to their local community circumstances," Hoffman said in a news release. "As a state, we should be collaborating to provide as much preparation and planning time as possible ahead of significant changes to school operations. To achieve stability for our school communities, it’s necessary to provide them with adequate time to inform and ready their staff, students and families."

Now that the order has been issued, Taylor said the department will be working with districts across the state to implement the required protocols by March 15.

The executive order was welcomed by many who want to see Arizona's kids return to normalcy.

“Arizona’s kids and families have undergone a tremendous amount of stress throughout the pandemic,” Sen. Paul Boyer said. Boyer is the chairman of the Arizona Senate Education Committee.“I’m glad to see more students going back to the classroom, and today’s guidance from the Arizona Department of Health Services will help ensure families that are ready to send their kids back can do so.”