King County Schools Kick Off The Remote School Year: What To Know

KING COUNTY, WA — Dozens of Washington school districts are returning to class virtually this week, including a handful in King County that kicked off the new school year Wednesday morning. While new coronavirus cases are on the decline, transmission rates remain above the level needed to allow in-person learning in most areas.

When will kids return to their classrooms?

The Washington State Department of Health uses a "decision tree" to determine when conditions are safe enough to resume in-person learning, based on the level of community coronavirus spread, the district's ability to ensure health and safety measures, and local health officials' capability to respond to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Counties reporting more than 75 new COVID-19 illnesses per 100,000 residents over two weeks are considered in the high activity range. As of Wednesday, King County remains at 82 cases per 100,000 residents. Once new cases drop into the moderate range, between 25 and 75 cases, districts can consider resuming some in-person learning for elementary students, and eventually implement a hybrid model for older students.

Once virus activity hits the low level, less than 25 cases per 100,000, full-time elementary learning and hybrid models for all middle and high schoolers can resume, with full-time classroom instruction implemented over time.

Read more about how the state's decision tree works, or review King County's COVID-19 activity tracker online.

USDA extends free meal programs through 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week extended funding for free meal programs in Washington and across the country, to ensure children are fed even as the pandemic keeps school buildings shuttered. The extension allows for school districts to serve up grab-and-go meals for parents to bring home at no cost, and to do so outside of usual meal times.

Many school districts, like Bellevue, have already published detailed schedules for meal pickups, which can be found on each district's website.

School start dates in King County:

• Auburn School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 9
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 14
• Bellevue School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 3
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 9
• Enumclaw School District
  • All grades: Sept. 1
• Federal Way Public Schools
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 8
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 11
• Highline Public Schools
  • All grades: Sept. 3
• Issaquah School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 1
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 4
• Kent School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 3
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 9
• Lake Washington School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 1
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 4
  • Preschool: Sept. 10
• Mercer Island School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 2
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 8
• Northshore School District
  • All grades: Sept. 2
• Renton School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 2
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 8
• Riverview School District
  • All grades: Sept. 1
• Seattle Public Schools
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 4
  • Kindergarten/Preschool: Sept. 8
• Shoreline School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 2
  • Kindergarten/Preschool: Sept. 8
• Snoqualmie Valley School District
  • Grades 1-12: Aug. 31
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 3
  • Preschool: Sept. 8
• Tahoma School District
  • Grades 1-12: Sept. 1
  • Kindergarten: Sept. 4
• Tukwila School District
  • All grades: Sept. 2