35K NYC Students Opt For In-Person Classes, Whenever They Return

NEW YORK CITY — Classrooms across the city may be under an automatic coronavirus shutdown, but they'll return with 35,000 new students.

That's the number of students who opted into blended learning during a two-week enrollment period, according to city Department of Education data.

The city initially gave parents a rolling chance to opt in, but eventually set a hard deadline to help teachers better schedule classes. The definite in-person enrollment numbers — which tally at about 300,000 citywide — will give educators a chance to roll out classes in buildings up to five days a week, officials said.

“We know that nothing can replace in-person instruction and blended learning families deserve as much time in the classroom inside their schools as possible," said Katie O'Hanlon, a DOE spokesperson, in a statement. "We will be working with schools to increase the number of days blended learning students are in buildings, and we’re excited for these students to join their peers when we reopen."

The new blended learning enrollment numbers follow the closure Thursday of public school buildings citywide.

The shutdown was triggered once the city's average coronavirus positivity rate hit 3 percent.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials are crafting a reopening plan in the next few days and hope to get students back to classrooms soon after Thanksgiving.