UPDATE: 94 Philly Public Schools Go Virtual Amid COVID Surge

UPDATE: Three more School District of Philadelphia schools will shift to virtual learning this week.

PHILADELPHIA — After numerous School District of Philadelphia schools last week shifted to virtual learning due to coronavirus-related staffing issued, the district said more than three dozen more schools are virtual this week.

In total, 94 of the district's 339 schools will be learning virtually.

See the full list of schools shifting to virtual learning here.

These schools will be virtual through at least Friday, the district said.

Students attending any of these schools and who need technology support can visit one of the district’s three Parent and Family Tech Support Centers or contact the Tech Support Hotline at 215-400-4444 or FamilyTechSupport@philasd.org.

"It’s important to know that shifting any school to virtual learning is always a last resort. Our schools are more than just institutions of learning," said Superintendent William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D. "They are the safe havens our young people rely on for emotional support from a caring educator, for reliable daily meals to nourish their growing bodies, for the support services that are vital to their health and healing, and for the sense of community and connectedness that comes with being together in person with their friends. "We will continue to keep as many of our school buildings open as consistently as possible as long as we are confident we can do so safely."

Starting Tuesday, the number of “Grab-and-Go” meal sites will expand from 12 to 24. Five-day meal boxes will be available for pick-up between 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.to 2 p.m. for any school district student who is temporarily learning virtually or quarantining at home. Further details can be found here.

District leaders have been conducting daily reviews to inform school-by-school decisions as quickly as possible. During these reviews, district leaders assess a range of information such as COVID-related staffing data, temporary measures the school can take to keep their schools operating smoothly, and how the district can deploy Central Office staff to help maintain safe and orderly school environments.

Any changes to in-person schools based on overnight data will be shared with families and staff at the impacted schools by 6 a.m. each day. Changes based on changes throughout the day will be shared by 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. each day.