Hours after Orleans Parish Public Schools announced it will be opening the 2020-2021 school year with distance learning, the Archdiocese of New Orleans today announced Catholic schools will offer a mix of in-person and distance education, WWL-TV reports.
"It is our preference that all students be present in their school communities for face-to-face instruction and faith formation," said a statement from Dr. RaeNell Houston, the superintendant of the Catholic school system for the Archdiocese. "However, we realize that this 'traditional' school setting may not always be feasible in the midst of COVID-19."
Individual schools have been instructed to listen to the parents of their students to devise their own plans, but the option of distance learning should be made available for families that aren't comfortable with sending kinds back to class.
"No matter the reasons, we are obliged to accommodate families that seek an alternate model for education," said Dr. Houston.