Marietta City Schools started the 2020-2021 school year with classes online only beginning on August 4. On August 11, the board of education approved the “Flexible Approach to Teaching and Learning” reopening plan that was developed with the goal of giving students and their families the ability to choose between in-person or online classes.
Phase 1:
Phase 1 is scheduled to begin on September 8 for students in pre-k, kindergarten, first, and second grades. This phase also includes low-incidence special education students in grades 3-5. Those choosing to attend will receive 2 days of in-person classes per week – either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Classes will be limited to a maximum of 9 students. Students who would like to continue with classes online, and all students not included in phase 1, will continue with their current online class schedule.
Phase 2:
Phase 2 extends the 2 days per week of in-person class option to grades three, four, and five. In addition, low-incidence special education students in grades k-12 will have the option for in-person classes 2 days per week.
Phase 3:
Phase 3 allows for students in grades PreK-5 to learn at the school 5 days per week. Grades 6, 7, and 9 can choose 1-2 days of in-person learning. In addition, low-incidence special education students in grades k-12 will have the option for in-person classes 5 days per week.
Phase 4:
Phase 4 allows for students in grades PreK-5 to learn at the school 5 days per week. Grades 6-12 can choose 1-2 days of in-person learning. In addition, low-incidence special education students in grades k-12 will have the option for in-person classes 5 days per week.
Phase 5:
Phase 5 is a return to 5-day weeks for all students in PreK-12. This will begin when community transmission is “minimal to moderate” (100 or fewer cases per 100,000 people).
In each phase, students eligible for in-person learning may opt to remain in online-only classes. Students opting for in-person classes will still have online classes during the weekdays when they are not at school. The transition to each phase could begin as early as 2-4 weeks after the previous phase, and the decision will be guided by both community COVID-19 transmission and school-based staffing and mitigation strategies.
Marietta City Schools Factors for Each Phase:
- Risk Mitigation Strategies: Ability to successfully execute each of the daily risk mitigation strategies, which align to CDC guidelines for safely reopening schools
- Staffing: Ability to staff required positions for teaching and school operations
Public Health Considerations for Each Phase:
- Transmission Data: Consistent decline in 14-day case rate (date of onset) per 100,000 people in Cobb County (as determined by Georgia Department of Public Health and Cobb & Douglas Public Health)
- COVID-19 Testing: Timely access to testing and results
- Contact Tracing/Case Investigation: Ability to quickly notify individuals who may have come in contact with person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is showing symptoms of COVID-19
Read the full reopening plan on the Marietta City Schools website:
Flexible Approach to Teaching and Learning
