All MD Schools To Offer In-Person Learning For Fall 2021

MARYLAND — All students in Maryland public schools will have the option of attending classes in-person this fall. The Maryland State Board of Education mandated the measure, taking a vote that was unanimous at its April 27 meeting.

Gov. Larry Hogan, who has been promoting the reopening of schools since August 2020, applauded the move.

"Families and students deserve the certainty that all school systems will return to full in-person learning," Hogan said in a statement. "To address the academic and emotional toll of prolonged online instruction, today's vote is an important step toward getting things back to normal."

Public schools across Maryland were ordered to close March 16, 2020, at the direction of State Superintendent Karen Salmon to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Since then, Maryland has had one of the slowest school reopening processes nationwide, according to Burbio, a data aggregation service that reported this week the only states with fewer students attending in-person as of Tuesday are Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington.

By law, the decision to reopen schools rests with the school boards, Hogan has said previously.

"The science supports getting our children back into school for in-person learning, and every student in Maryland should have that opportunity right now," Hogan said.

The World Health Organization released a report in October showing that, based on preliminary data, schools and children were unlikely to be the main drivers of COVID-19 transmission as long as community transmission of the virus was low and measures like social distancing are applied.

"To encourage the safe reopening of schools, the state has committed more than $1.2 billion in funding, prioritized teachers for vaccines, and provided all necessary PPE, testing and guidance," Hogan said.

Some school districts will continue to offer virtual learning in the fall. Harford County Public Schools will provide in-person instruction and plans to offer an all-virtual track.

See the status of public school districts in Maryland.

This story may be updated.

See Also:

• Maryland Schools Continue Comparatively Slow Reopening Plan
• Hogan Ups Ante On In-Person Teaching, Vows To Send COVID Tests And PPE To Schools
• MD Schools Should Reopen By March 1: Governor, Superintendent
• Maryland Students Now Can Be 3 Feet Apart In Schools: Hogan
• Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening, Governor Said In August 2020

My statement welcoming the Maryland State Board of Education’s unanimous vote requiring Maryland school systems to offer full in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year: pic.twitter.com/N6ZNxlVyxk
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) April 27, 2021