Hartford Public Schools Announce Shift to Hybrid Learning on Nov 16th

Published on November 02, 2020

HARTFORD, CONN (November 2, 2020) – Today Hartford Public Schools and the City of Hartford announced that Hartford Public Schools will be shifting to its hybrid learning model effective the week of November 16, 2020.  Under that model, pre-kindergarten through ninth grade will shift to hybrid learning, with students in school two days a week and learning remotely three days a week.  Tenth through twelfth graders will learn remotely.  City leaders emphasized that they hope to be able to revert back to full, in-person learning if public health conditions allow and asked Hartford residents to help make that possible by taking coronavirus precautions more seriously as the weather gets colder.

“Our collective goal from the beginning was to offer full, in-person learning for as long as possible,” said Mayor Luke Bronin.  “Full, in-person learning is crucial to long-term academic as well as social and emotional development, and Hartford Public Schools has done everything they can to offer that for more than two months.  I fully support their decision move to hybrid learning in two weeks given where we are with coronavirus transmission, and I ask every Hartford resident to help us get back to a place where we can offer full, in-person learning.  We have been in daily contact with the Superintendent and her team, and I know that this was not an easy decision, given the profound impact on families and the lack of clear data showing that schools are vectors of transmission – as well as the fact that the number of suspected cases of in-school transmission remains very low.  But given the continued and significant rise in cases in Hartford and the region, this is the most responsible decision right now.  I want to thank the entire team at Hartford Public Schools for doing a tremendous job of creating a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and staff, and I want to thank the entire Hartford Public Schools community for their patience and flexibility.”

“I was committed to starting the school year offering an in-person option for our students and families, based on state guidance and family preferences and needs,” said Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez.  “We know that daily in-person instruction, social-emotional and mental health supports in a safe environment is what is best for many of our students.  The decision to shift our learning models to hybrid for Prek-9, and remote for grades 10-12, is not made lightly and I understand the difficult burden this change places on our students, families, and staff.  I am grateful for their continued partnership as we, together, work through these challenging circumstances.”

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