DESE Approves Falmouth Waiver To Delay Grade 5 In-Person Learning

FALMOUTH, MA — State education officials have approved a waiver request from the Falmouth Public Schools to push back the return to full in-person learning for grade 5, according to Superintendent Lori Duerr.

The district was one of 58 statewide to receive exemptions, Boston.com reported.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's timeline called for elementary schools to be in person five days a week by April 5. But in Falmouth, there are grade 5 students attending the Morse Pond School with middle school-aged students. By approving the waiver, those grade 5 students can begin full in-person learning on April 26, rather than April 5.

Falmouth was one of 26 school districts to receive a similar waiver delaying grade 5 students from a full return because of their inclusion in the middle school population.

The rest of Falmouth's reopening plan coincides or exceeds the state's reopening requirements. The town's elementary schools have remained fully in-person since September, while all other districts statewide must do so by April 5.

Middle schoolers at the Morse Pond and Lawrence schools will return to the classroom April 26. High school students will remain in a hybrid model until the district receives guidance from the state.