Tulsa Public Schools welcomes students back to in-person learning

(TULSA, Okla.) Tulsa Public Schools is excited to welcome students in all grades back to in-person learning this week. The district is encouraging families to visit www.tulsaschools.org/backtoschool to find information and updates about COVID-19 safety and parent resources for the 2020-2021 school year. “Over the last few weeks, we have started to see the results of Tulsans doing their part to minimize community spread, and we are so excited to welcome our students back to their classrooms,” said Superintendent Deborah A. Gist. This week, students will return to in-person learning on a staggered schedule: Tier 3 and Tier 4 students with special needs; elementary students in grades 4, 5, and 6; middle school students in grade 6; junior high school students in grade 7; high school students in grade 9; and Project Accept students will return to in-person learning on Tuesday, Feb. 23; and Students in grades pre-K-3; grades 7 and 8 at middle schools; grade 8 at junior high schools; grades 10, 11, and 12 at high schools; Phoenix Rising students; and Street School students will return to in-person learning on Thursday, Feb. 25. Students will have in-person learning on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and participate in distance learning on Wednesdays. Tulsa Virtual Academy students will remain in distance learning for the remainder of the year. The district is encouraging parents to prepare for returning to in-person learning by: Bookmarking or printing a copy of the at-home student health screening questionnaire; Reviewing information about the district’s safety practices, mask requirements, and response to COVID-19 exposure; Knowing what to do if their children have symptoms of or are exposed to COVID-19; Making sure schools have updated parent contact information including cell phone numbers and email addresses; and Checking their child’s bus route and helping to create safe distancing on buses by driving children to school if they can. Gist said: “School will look and feel different when students return, and it is critical that families talk with their children about how they can help keep their classmates and teachers safe. While we will work to create as much safe distancing as possible during the school day, it is unlikely that we can provide the recommended distance. We need everyone in our school buildings to wear their masks, and we need students and adults to respect the personal space of others as much as they can during the school day.” “I am confident in the rigorous health and safety standards we have in place in all of our schools, and I know that our teachers, school leaders, and support professionals are looking forward to welcoming students back to the classroom.” For more information about the 2020-2021 school year, including safety practices and protocols, visit www.tulsaschools.org/backtoschool.