Back to school
Bridgeport aims to resume in-person classes in January
BRIDGEPORT — Learning is fully remote for most students in the city’s public school system but plans are underway to bring them back to the classroom after the new year.
In a memo to families, Schools Superintendent Michael Testani said the transition back to in-person learning will begin on Jan. 11, with the district’s youngest students — prekindergarten and kindergarteners.
Grades 1 through 8 will return to the hybrid schedule — where students rotate between in-person and remote learning — unless in-person class size is less than 14 students. This will vary by school and class.
High school students will return to a hybrid schedule.
All special education and English Language learners can continue the option of attending school four days a week if class sizes allow.
“We made the difficult decision to go to fully remote before Thanksgiving in order to maintain the health and safety of our students and staff,” Testani said. “It is now time to prepare our return to inperson teaching and learning so we can provide the necessary support for our students.”
Parents have the option to change from remote learning to in-person learning. Parents who chose remote learning for their children must contact their school administration by Dec. 18. Parents of in-person learners do not need to notify the school.
Before the shift to remote learning, some 10,571 students — slightly more than half — were learning in person.
As of Dec. 11, some 128 students and 88 staff members across 38 buildings in the district had con
tracted the virus, according to the district’s online COVID-19 Dashboard.