The last day of temporary virtual learning for St. Paul Public Schools students is March 13 and students will return to in-person classes on or before March 16, according to district officials.
As of Tuesday, the majority of students who enrolled in the district’s temporary virtual learning option have since returned to in-person classes. The temporary option began in late January as an alternative for students who may have felt unsafe attending in-person classes during the federal immigration enforcement crackdown.
Around 7,900 of the district’s approximately 33,260 students signed up for temporary virtual learning at its peak. As of late February, that number had dropped to about 3,700 students. The virtual learning option as well as other support services for families has cost nearly $1 million.
Students can return to in-person classes on earlier dates, if requested. Returning students should bring their iPads and chargers with them to school. Families with any questions should contact their student’s school.
The district’s meal box delivery to students will end before March 16 and families signed up for it will be notified before their last delivery.
In announcing the end of temporary virtual learning, district officials reminded families about the district’s safety protocols. Those include keeping schools locked and having visitors identify themselves before being let into the building, new building and parking lot signage that immigration enforcement activity is not allowed without a judicial warrant and adults who are present at pickup and drop-off times to ensure student safety.
The district board also adopted an emergency policy in February reaffirming that federal immigration enforcement officers are prohibited from school property, interviews with students or staff or other enforcement activities on district property unless required by a valid judicial warrant or law.
For more details, go to spps.org/news-details/~board/virtual/post/temporary-virtual-learning-ending.
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