UPDATED: 4:10 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There will be no return to the classroom this month for some students in the School District of Philadelphia. Officials blame the surge in cases of COVID-19.
Pennsylvania and Philadelphia each reported the highest single-day increases of new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday — 4,361 statewide and 879 in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania is averaging more than 3,000 new cases every day.
Philly schools had plans to start a hybrid day, including time online and time in classrooms, for pre-K through second grade, starting on Nov. 30.
The plan now is to stay all-virtual until further notice because of the rising cases of COVID-19.
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“Transitioning to hybrid learning and having students engaged in face-to-face instruction with teachers is our goal. But our top priority is the health and well-being of our students and our staff,” said Superintendent William Hite.
About a third of the 32,000 eligible students had opted into the hybrid plan. Hite said their wishes will be honored whenever the district is able to begin in-person classes. He hopes that will be before the spring.
“But it’s all going to be based on the advice from the health community and all of the information we're getting from (the Pennsylvania Department of Education),” he added.
“Our city and surrounding counties are seeing spikes in cases, and there is a concern that those numbers will only rise in the coming weeks.”
Teachers were scheduled to return to school buildings on Monday to make preparations, but now they will also be staying home.
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan said in a statement he supports the district’s move, adding, “The decision to remain fully virtual for the foreseeable future will save lives.”