L.A. Schools Could Reopen In Mid-April Under Deal With Teachers

Los Angeles students are moving closer to returning to the classrooms, as soon as mid-April, under a tentative agreement reached Tuesday between the teachers union and the L.A. Unified School District.

According to the LA Times, the agreement comes a year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced school closures.

The agreement still must be ratified by members as it establishes safety parameters for a return to campuses and lays out a markedly different schedule that will still rely heavily on the aspect of online learning. The proposed school day would unfold under a “hybrid format,” which means students would conduct their studies on campus during a part of the week and continue with their schooling online during other times.

The option of keeping students at home would still remain open for families who prefer distance learning full-time.

Under the terms of the agreement, members of United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents teachers, nurses, counselors, and librarians, would not have to return to work until they have received COVID-19 vaccinations and have achieved maximum immunity, which takes a period of up to six weeks. That duration period, combined with the amount of time needed to get vaccination appointments are the main factors of the district’s proposed timetable, which aims to restart elementary schools on April 19.