SUPERINTENDENT SAYS SCHOOLS COULD REALISTICALLY REOPEN FULLY IN FALL 2021; SOME HIGH SCHOOLS CAN HOLD LIMITED IN-PERSON COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
SUPERINTENDENT SAYS SCHOOLS COULD REALISTICALLY REOPEN FULLY IN FALL 2021; SOME HIGH SCHOOLS CAN HOLD LIMITED IN-PERSON COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
Despite a national push to get students back in classrooms full-time, following new safety guidance from the CDC, schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said Hawaii public schools are unlikely to return to full in-person learning before next school year.
For the first time, Kishimoto offered more details on what that timeline looks like, saying public schools in Hawaii won’t reopen fully to in-person instruction before the fall.
She says summer classes could also be held in-person.
Additionally, the state Department of Education announced on February 25 that limited, in-person commencements can be held this year.
The DOE has created guidelines to set limits on the number of people who can greet graduates and where the celebrations can take place.
In addition to standard school health and safety protocols, commencement events will need to follow other rules.
- The ceremony must be held outdoors or in a venue with adequate ventilation. Third-party venues are allowed.
- Graduates will be allowed to bring a maximum of two members from their household. No additional guests will be allowed. Schools also have the authority to reduce this number based on venue restrictions and ceremony formats.
- Larger schools that may experience difficulties in hosting a safe, in-person ceremony are encouraged to consider alternative options such as a blend of in-person and virtual ceremonies, staggered drive-through ceremonies or drive-in formats.
The full list of commencement guidelines can be viewed here.