Tulsa School Board delays return to in-person learning for 4th-6th graders

TULSA, Okla. — During a special meeting Thursday night, the Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education changed the plan for 4th-6th graders in elementary schools to return to in-person learning.

The board decided students, at elementary schools only, will now return to classes on January 4th, 2021 instead of November 30th, as originally announced.

The meeting was to discuss the latest COVID-19 numbers within the county and to address the continuing staffing troubles TPS has seen in the past months since reopening their doors in August.

Tulsa schools said in their announcement, “We make our COVID-19 health and safety decisions based on science, data, and the advice of health experts. We consider a number of factors including (but not limited to) district and county 7-day rolling averages, availability of personal protective equipment, rates of quarantine and staffing capacity, and hospitalization rates. We will continue to closely monitor conditions around health and safety in our schools, district, and city to ensure that we are keeping our students, team, and families safe.”

Students in pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade will continue with in-person learning. Students in middle, junior high, and high school will return to in-person classes on the same January 4th date.

Students attending Tulsa Virtual Academy will continue in distance learning for the rest of the school year. Tulsa Virtual Academy students will have the option to shift back to in-person classes at their home school at the end of the semester.

Cox Media Group