Anne Arundel County’s school board voted Friday to begin a hybrid learning program for as many students as possible by March 1.
The plan calls for small groups of students, including special-needs students and English language learners, to return to in-person instruction as soon as possible, assuming county metrics say it’s safe to do so, WTOP reported.
The board initially planned to push for starting hybrid learning at elementary schools in the second semester on Feb. 2, but voted to give Superintendent George Arlotto time to formulate a reopening plan, which they requested by Feb. 17, WTOP reported.
The board’s vote comes after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday that phase 1B of the state’s vaccination efforts, which includes education staff and K-12 teachers, can begin Monday.
As of Friday, Anne Arundel County has 29,358 coronavirus cases — 15% of which are of residents 19 and younger — and 399 virus-related deaths, according to the county health department.