Anaheim Elem. School Dist. to Return to School 4/12

Anaheim, Calif. - Superintendent Christopher Downing announced today that Anaheim Elementary School District (AESD) will return to campus for hybrid in-person instruction starting on Monday, April 12, 2021. The move was a result of the improvement in COVID-19 data. As of March 31, Orange County moved into the Orange Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

The AESD School Board approved the reopening date of April 12 at its March 3 board meeting. A district survey showed that eighty percent of parents would like to send their children back to school for in-person instruction this month. The district is confident that the implementation of strict safety protocols as mandated by the California Department of Health will support a safe return to campus.

“As a school community, we’re always listening to our parents and the community we serve,” says Superintendent Downing. “With Covid-19 cases dropping in Orange County along with the support of federal funds received to reopen campuses safely, we look forward to achieving a successful school reopening next week.”

Starting April 12:

• Special education students will attend in-person instruction five days a week.
• Students from prekindergarten to second grade will return to their respective campuses for four hours with half of each class attending on Mondays and Wednesdays and the other half coming to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Afternoons and Fridays will be dedicated to online learning.

Starting April 19:

• Students from grades three to six will return to their respective campus following the same hybrid learning model as prekindergarten to second grade.

“The safety of our students and our staff is our number one priority,” says Tracey Golden, senior director of School Safety and Operations. “Six-foot social distancing will be implemented in the classrooms and masks will be mandatory. Students and staff will also be required to stay within their assigned groups as an extra measure of precaution.”

During in-person sessions, personal protective equipment will be provided to students and staff. Covid-19 testing is offered free of charge by visiting https://lhi.care/covidtesting to sign up.

Families who do not feel comfortable sending their students to school can continue with online instruction. The school year for AESD ends on June 9, 2021.

Parents are also encouraged to check out the AESD Covid-19 Safety Plan for In-Person Instruction by visiting https://bit.ly/3w6PKKy. Materials are available in English, Spanish and Korean.

About Anaheim Elementary School District

The Anaheim Elementary School district serves nearly 16,000 students at 24 campuses in the City of Anaheim, making it the largest elementary school district in Orange County and the second largest in the State of California. AESD is committed to providing engaging and equitable learning opportunities for all students through STEAM, Dual Language, and music education programs in TK through 6th grade. Award- winning schools, innovative programs, and one-of-a-kind community partnerships make AESD an educational leader in the region that prepares students for success in the 21st Century.