What Each Pierce County School District Is Doing This Fall: LIST

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Earlier this summer Washington's schools had reason to be optimistic: as coronavirus case counts and transmission rates dipped, the state superintendent ordered schools to prepare to reopen their classrooms for in-person learning in the fall. However, a second surge of the coronavirus has been slamming Washington over the past month, forcing districts to reconsider if they will reopen or resume remotely in the fall.

In late July, Dr. Anthony Chen, Director of Health for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued a letter to superintendents of districts across the county, warning them that it was not currently safe to reopen classrooms for in person learning in the fall. Following that, many, but not all, of Pierce County's school districts announced that they would be resuming remotely when classes begin in fall.

Here's a look at each district's plan for the year ahead:

(This is list will continue to be updated as more schools announce decisions about the fall)

Bethel School District: Classes will begin remotely in the fall, transitioning into a hybrid-model when the health district updates guidance. Students can also enroll in the Bethel Virtual Academy if they wish to remain online for the full school year.

Carbonado School District: Planning a hybrid model, but may change to all remote classes depending on case counts. Parents can choose to have their students learn entirely online.

Clover Park School District: Remote learning in fall. Plans have been put in place for hybrid model or full face-to-face learning later in the year, if possible.

Eatonville School District: Currently hosting an online survey to determine the best course of action.

Fife Public Schools: Classes will begin remotely, though plans are in place to resume in-person if the situation improves later in the school year.

Franklin Pierce Schools: Classes will begin remotely. Like many other districts, they say they are prepared to transition to other models when it becomes safer to do so.

Orting School District: Beginning remotely, with plans to transition into an A/B hybrid schedule later in the year.

Peninsula School District: Classes will resume remotely.

Puyallup School District: Classes will begin remotely. The district says they will reconsider hybrid learning between six and eight weeks after the school year begins.

Steilacoom Historical School District: Classes will be 100 percent remote at the beginning of the year, but the district has developed a four-stage program to slowly reopen as the situation improves. Students and parents who wish to remain online all year also have the option of enrolling in a virtual online academy.

Sumner-Bonney Lake School District: Remote learning when classes begin, the district has announced a six-stage transition into full in-person learning they hope to use throughout the year.

Tacoma Public Schools: Remote learning, with the goal of transitioning into a hybrid model later in the year. The district has also developed an online academy program.

University Place School District: 100 percent remote learning when classes begin. Select facilities will be open for staff and small group instruction.

White River School District: Remote learning in fall, but the district is planning in-person learning for vulnerable populations or students in need of additional support, to be announced soon.

Related: Pierce County Health Warns Schools It Is Not Safe To Reopen