Anoka-Hennepin elementary students will get one more week of in-person instruction before the district transitions to distance learning in response to rising coronavirus cases.
The district said Friday that elementary classes will be canceled the entire week of Thanksgiving so that staff can prepare for distance learning to begin Nov. 30.
Middle and high schools in the state’s largest district reverted to distance learning Nov. 4.
State guidelines call for school leaders to consider closing when their county’s new coronavirus case rate over two weeks exceeds 30 per 10,000 residents for secondary schools and 50 for elementary schools.
Anoka County’s new case rate is 76 and Hennepin County’s is 51 per 10,000 residents.
Spring Lake Park announced the same transition plan on Friday. Grades K-6 will take Thanksgiving week off before moving to distance learning.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district also announced a transition to distance learning on Friday. Pending board approval, elementary students will start learning from home Nov. 23.
South Washington County elementary students will begin distance learning Dec. 7. The district is calling off four days of school before then so that teachers can prepare for the transition. Middle and high schools will start distance learning on Monday as previously announced.
Of the state’s 20 largest districts, at least 18 will have secondary students in distance learning by early December and at least 15 will have their elementary schools in distance learning.