Inslee Loosens Distancing Restrictions For Washington Schools

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced Washington would adopt new federal guidance for distancing in schools, allowing for more students to return to the classroom and setting districts on a path toward full-time in-person instruction.

Under the directive, effective immediately, all school districts can choose to reduce spacing to 3 feet between desks, down from 6 feet, making room for more students.

"We are confident in this decision because, in addition to the CDC guidance, which has been based on a huge assessment of the science, there are thousands of schools today operating across the country under this guidance right now, and operating safely," Inslee said Thursday. "This order removes another barrier that would otherwise prevent the full reintroduction of children into the classroom in a more normal setting, full-time."

Earlier in the month, Inslee ordered all schools to provide hybrid, in-learning person options to all K-12 students no later than April 19. On Thursday, the governor estimated 200 Washington districts have already brought back learners in hybrid learning models.

"We know our children have been experiencing tremendous mental health challenges and disturbances," Inslee said. "The more children we get back in the classroom, the faster, the better. This is a major step forward in our continuing effort to help our students get their feet under them."

Lacy Fehrenbach, the state's deputy secretary for COVID-19 response, pointed to recent studies in Wisconsin, Utah and Massaschetetts that found limited risk in reducing the distance between students, as long as other health and safety precautions, including mask use, were followed.

"In those studies, in particular, there was very little transmission in schools, even with a distance of less than 6 feet, and even when disease rates in the surrounding community were relatively high when there were layered mitigation measures," Fehrenbach said.

Fehrenbach said the six-foot rule will still apply to adults and visitors and for students in certain scenarios where masks are not worn, like during meals, or when participating in more strenuous activities, like sports or band practice, where more breath is exhaled.

While the governor's directive allows all districts to adopt the change, the ultimate decision and timing will rest with each school board. Districts will continue to be required to offer remote-learning options.

Inslee said he was confident in districts' abilities to adopt the change and was impressed with educators' continued efforts to adapt.

"I've seen educator staff really develop, in extremely challenging circumstances, protocols and logistics that can get our students back into school," Inslee said. "That's what gives me confidence that we will now be able to see more of our students return to a much more normal school situation."

Read more about the new guidance for Washington's K-12 schools on the state Department of Health website.