Seattle teachers’ union OKs agreement for return to in-person learning April 5
SPS, teachers union reach agreement to in person learning return date
The Seattle Public Schools and teacher's union reach an agreement for elementary students to return to in-person learning on April 5th.
SEATTLE - The union representing 7,000 Seattle Public Schools employees has ratified an agreement to bring elementary students back into the classroom for in-person instruction on April 5.
The Seattle Times reports the agreement makes official a return to school buildings for the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seattle is Washington’s largest public school district with more than 50,000 students.
The Seattle Education Association had 82% of members approve the deal this week.
The parents of about 58% of SPS students indicated in a districtwide survey this week that they plan to return their children to school for hybrid instruction, a district spokesperson said. The district received responses from families of 14,272 of its 24,648 currently enrolled students.
RELATED: Washington changes social distancing minimum requirement in schools to 3 feet apart
Students can now be 3 feet apart in schools
The move comes after the CDC changed requirements for social distancing in schools
Under the agreement, elementary school students and secondary students with disabilities would return to buildings on April 5 — Gov. Jay Inslee’s deadline for districts to offer in-person instruction for young students.
RELATED: Inslee to require all school districts to offer some in-person learning
Some elementary students receiving special education services would return on March 29. Students would attend schools four days per week on half-day schedules for just under three hours, with some attending in the morning and others in the afternoon.
It also includes a commitment to keep as many students as possible with their current classroom educator and maintain 6-foot physical distancing. The agreement was negotiated before Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement Thursday that reduced the distancing requirement from 6 to 3 feet.
Stay connected with Q13 News on all platforms:
DOWNLOAD: Q13 News and Weather Apps
WATCH: Q13 News Live
SUBSCRIBE: Q13 FOX on YouTube
FOLLOW: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram