The second of the three options the The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will be choosing from for reopening schools is called hybrid learning. The following explains how this would work:
Hybrid learning: In addition, all districts/schools must create a plan for a hybrid model in the event they are unable to bring all students back to school under the health and safety requirements despite their best efforts, or in case of COVID-19 related circumstances. A hybrid model means that students would alternate between in-person and remote learning. For instance, students could switch between in-person and remote learning on alternating weeks or days of the week.
Hybrid learning models: When planning for a hybrid learning model, we recommend that districts and schools use an A/B cohort model that isolates two distinct cohorts of students who attend school in-person on either different weeks, different days of the week, or half days each day. For instance, Cohort A would attend school in-person from Monday–Friday of Week 1, while Cohort B learns at home remotely. In Week 2, Cohort B would attend in-person school and Cohort A would engage in remote learning at home.
Ever wonder how they will have enough classroom teachers, when they will obviously need more since there will be smaller class sizes due to social distancing? Check back here next time for the surprising DESE answer.