The Renton School District is asking all secondary parents to notify them if they will be sending their student(s) back to school or keep them virtual. Families should login to Skyward via the family access. Click on Online Forms and select one of the two options. (Example is below). According to he district announcement online

“We are developing plans for the return of our middle and high school students to in-person learning. Given the Governor’s announcement on Friday, we are designing our plan in accordance with these new requirements. At minimum, students will have the opportunity to learn in-person at least two days per week (partial or full days). While we do not have the details finalized, to be better prepared, we need information from our families.”

Link to Skyward

This comes after Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed an emergency proclamation prohibiting all public K-12 schools in Washington from failing to provide opportunities in both remote instruction and on-campus, in-person instruction. The proclamation aims to address the alarming educational inequities and mental health concerns among students as a result of prolonged remote education.

“This has been a long year for our state’s students and their families. They have lived with fear and uncertainty,” Inslee said during a press conference Friday. “The youth mental health crisis has become significantly worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is time to provide an in-person learning option to help students that need it.”

Under the proclamation, schools will be allowed to stagger the reintroduction of students to campus. Schools will be expected to provide an in-person learning option that equates to at least 30% of instructional time by two key deadlines:

• April 5: All students in kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade (depending on the school district) must be offered a hybrid option.
• April 19: All remaining K-12 students must be offered a hybrid option.

In addition, schools must offer students at least two days per week of on-campus, in-person instruction.