Omaha Public Schools is prepared to responsibly reopen schools and welcome students back for in-person learning through a phased approach. The decision to transition to in-person learning follows months of planning with the health, safety and well-being of students, staff and families in mind.
“We certainly appreciate the amount of support that we have received since March. At this time, we are ready to bring our students back into schools,” said Dr. Cheryl Logan, superintendent of Omaha Public Schools. “As we move forward, every one of us, from our smallest three-year-olds to our seniors, can contribute to making sure we have a safe, responsible return to school.”
The district recognizes the importance of students interacting with their teachers in-person and learning alongside their peers. As part of the district’s commitment to provide the best educational opportunities for OPS students, a timeline is now in place for the phased return to in-person learning.
The timeline, shared below, outlines which programs/students will return in the Family 3/2 Instructional Learning Model and which programs/students will return to in-person learning five days per week. A fully-remote learning option will remain available for families.
“We look forward to welcoming our students back, in person, to the Omaha Public Schools beginning in just a few short weeks,” added Logan.
The phased plan began this week, with students at J.P. Lord School returning to five days per week on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Additional phases are outlined as follows:
On Sept. 23, 2020, the following students will return:
- Five days per week in-person
- K-12 Alternate Curriculum Program (ACP)
- Transition
- Elementary Behavioral Skills Program (BSP)
- All Early Childhood Special Education Students
- Hearing Impaired Classrooms
On Oct. 5, 2020, the following students will return:
- Family 3/2 Model
- Early Childhood
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- Middle School Behavioral Skills Program (BSP)
- Five days per week in-person
- Parrish
- Student Success Program
On Oct. 19, 2020, the following students will return:
- Family 3/2 Model
- High School
- High School Behavioral Skills Program (BSP)
- ESL Teen Literacy Center
- Career Center
- Accelere
- Independent Study
- Blackburn
- Five days per week in-person
- Gateway to College
- OPS/UNO Middle College
- Omaha Virtual School
- Modified blended learning model
As the district transitions to in-person learning, all health and safety precautions will remain in place, which include social distancing, face coverings and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures.
Click here for a copy of the letter families received on Sept. 16, a video of Dr. Logan’s remarks on our return to in-person learning and b-roll of the safety measures in place for the return to in-person learning.