New Haven to reopen classrooms

Classrooms to open for the first time since pandemic began

After months of fully online education for most children, New Haven — one of Connecticut’s largest school districts — will reopen classrooms for some students in a limited hybrid model starting Jan. 19. The district’s decision to reopen in a remote model garnered statewide attention after Gov. Ned Lamont publicly opposed the New Haven Board of Education’s stance several times.

After months of fully online education for most children, New Haven — one of Connecticut’s largest school districts — will reopen classrooms for some students in a limited hybrid model starting Jan. 19. The district’s decision to reopen in a remote model garnered statewide attention after Gov. Ned Lamont publicly opposed the NewHaven Board of Education’s stance several times.

All New Haven students in grades pre-K through 5 are expected to participate in the hybrid model, along with special education students and children participating in the New Arrivals program at Fair Haven and Barnard schools, New Haven Superintendent of Schools Iline Tracey said in a notice to families Thursday. Administrators have not yet determined when students in other grades will be able to return.

She also noted two schools, West Rock STREAM Academy and Quinnipiac Real World Magnet Math STEMSchool, will remain closed.

“Based on the analysis of the ventilation system, the City’s Department of Public Health and the City’s building inspector determined that these schools cannot be opened for in-person instruction,” she said.

While New Haven is largely recognized as one of the only school districts in the state to have remained in online-only learning for months at a time, more than 10 other communities previously announced plans to keep kids learning from home