Students will return in-person this fall, but restrictions remain. What you need to know

Rhode Island public schools will return to in-person classes this fall with some conditions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Dan McKee announced Wednesday morning.

For example, masks will still be required for students riding on school buses.

At school, students will be asked to sit in small pods, or practice social distancing of at least 3 feet.

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McKee made the announcements at the Providence Career and Technical High School. He was joined by state Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and state Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott.

It will be up to each district to set masking guidelines for students who are not vaccinated, Infante-Green said. Children 12 and older are currently eligible for vaccinations.

School reopenings were rocky last fall, under then-Gov. Gina Raimondo.

The goal, unlike in many other states, was to return as many children as possible to the classroom. Most districts staggered in-person schooling, with the youngest students returning first. Others dragged their heels, despite prodding from Raimondo and Infante-Green.  

This year, schools across the state will be fully open in the fall. Here is what school will look like, according to state officials. 

Mask requirements for RI schools

An individual district will have the authority to make its own decision regarding mask mandates for unvaccinated students. 

Currently, students between 12 and 18 are eligible for the two-shot Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

On Wednesday, McKee said more than 40% of students ages 12 to 15 have received both shots and about 60% of residents between the ages of 16 and 18 have done so.  

Approximately 90% of teachers and staff are fully vaccinated.  

The state recommends that students and staff who have been fully vaccinated do not have to wear masks in school.   

Students will still have to wear masks on school buses, but the buses can now run at full capacity. Last year, running the buses at limited capacity posed serious headaches for districts and families. 

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Distance learning in the classroom

Schools will have to come up with distance lesson plans for students with medical issues or those under quarantine because either they have COVID-19 or are a close contact with someone who does.  

Students will continue to work in small, stable groups to minimize the spread of COVID-19. When it is impossible to maintain stable “pods," the state is recommending that students remain three feet apart. 

Finding 'missing' students

Earlier this year, the Department of Education confirmed that approximately 4,000 students were unaccounted for or are missing from school rosters. 

Infante-Green said each district must have a concrete plan to bring these children back, whether it entails calling home, knocking on doors, or, in the case of Providence, hiring a cadre of community members to contact families. 

Linda Borg covers education for The Journal.