DOE: All Hawaii Public School Students Will Be Learning In-Person In The Fall

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said COVID-19 protocols and broader vaccine eligibility for children make it safer to bring students back to school.

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All Hawaii public school students should anticipate returning to campuses for full, in-person learning when the 2021-2022 school year begins in the fall, the Department of Education announced in a letter to parents on Monday.

Outgoing DOE Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said with vaccines available to kids 12 and older and ongoing safety practices in place, 鈥渁ll HIDOE schools will be fully open for daily, in-person learning鈥 starting Aug. 3. This includes extracurricular activities like clubs, band and athletics.

Honowai Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher May Anne Kim in her classroom as students recite the 鈥楶ledge of Allegiance鈥.
Hawaii public schools plan to resume full in-person learning in the fall, including extracurricular activities. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Kishimoto said that since June 2020, there have been more than 800 cases of COVID-19 tied to the school system, but said there has been no transmission of the virus directly within any DOE facilities.

She added that the safety of students and staff members remains a top priority.

鈥淎ll of our high schools have been paired with health care providers to offer vaccinations to interested students and families, and we are now focusing on our middle school campuses,鈥 Kishimoto said in the letter. 鈥淎dditionally the Department is finalizing plans for weekly COVID testing at select pilot schools to further contain spread in our school communities.鈥

The announcement comes amid a strong push to vaccinate younger Hawaii residents, including with vaccine clinics on school campuses.
Everyone who is 12 and older in the islands can get a vaccine.

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