school, education — What will the 2020-2021 school year look like around Birmingham? Photo by CDC via Unsplash

As summer draws to a close, parents and students around Birmingham have one question: will public schools be reopening for the 2020-2021 school year? Here’s what we know so far.

Birmingham City Schools

First Day of School: Friday, August 24

Leaders of Birmingham City Schools have officially announced they will be starting the 2020-2021 school year with virtual instruction only.

The school district will:

Provide teachers with training on virtual instruction.
Provide parents with digital learning forums to help navigate at-home learning.

More information.

Other School Districts Opting for Virtual Learning

Along with Birmingham City Schools, many other school districts around the state are opting for virtual learning for the first nine weeks of the Fall 2020 semester, including:

Bessemer City
Bullock County
Gadsden City
Greene County
Huntsville City
Macon County
Madison City
Madison County
Midfield City
Montgomery City
Montgomery County
Mobile County
Russell County
Selma City
Sumter County
Tuscaloosa City

Homewood City Schools

First Day of School: Wednesday, August 19

Learning Options:

Traditional (full time, in person)
Virtual

Safety Precautions:

Students: Required to wear masks when physical distancing is not possible.
Staff: Required to wear masks when physical distancing is not possible.
Masks will be provided to students and staff on the first day of school if needed.

Parents will be asked to register for one option by July 24.

More information.

Hoover City Schools

First Day of School: Thursday, August 6. Later start date being considered.

Learning Options:

1. Engaged Learning at School and Home

In-person, full-time school on campus
Four levels of response depending on public health conditions
Hoover teachers will use Hoover local curriculum

2. Engaged Learning in the Virtual School

Full-time virtual school at home
Continued community connection to zoned school
Hoover teachers will use state-provided curriculum

Parents will be asked to register for one option by July 17.

More information.

Leeds City Schools

First Day of School: Thursday, August 6

Learning Options:

1. Traditional

Students are served at school through a variety of digital, paper and teacher-led methods.
Students may participate in extracurricular and after-school activities.

2. Virtual

Students are served using Schools PLP (PK-5th grade) or Edgenuity (6th-12th grade).
Students will learn at home using a Chromebook or personal technology device. Chromebooks will be available to students August 3-5.
Students may return to traditional instruction at any of the three nine-week grading periods.
Students may participate in extracurricular and after-school activities.

3. Remote Learners

Remote learners are traditional learners who must temporarily leave school due to the need to quarantine. They will:

Be served via Google Classroom or paper assignments.
Not permitted to participate in extracurricular or after-school activities.

Parents will be asked to register for one option the week of July 22.

More information.

Mountain Brook City Schools

First Day of School: Tuesday, August 11

Learning Options:

1. Traditional

Students attend classes in a traditional, on-campus setting.

2. Remote

Students attend classes “remotely” using a variety of virtual and paper resources. Teachers have regular check-in times and can provide virtual instruction.

3. Blended

Students transition between traditional and remote and back again based on need and preference.

More information.

Pelham City Schools

First Day of School: Wednesday, August 19

Pelham City Schools will share their reopening plan with parents and the community by July 16. The plan will include three learning options:

Traditional
Remote (Virtual)
Blended approach combining traditional and remote learning

Parents will be asked to register for one option by July 20.

More information.

Trussville City Schools

First Day of School: Wednesday, August 12

Learning Options:

1. Option A: Traditional School

Backup Plan: 50% blended or temporary remote learning if state requires limited capacity in schools

2. Option B: Husky Online Academy

Off Campus
Online Curriculum

3. Option C: Husky Online Academy Plus

Online Curriculum
Scheduled In-School Opportunities

Parents will be asked to register for one option by July 17.

Safety Precautions: students and employees are not required to wear masks.

More information.

Shelby County Schools

First Day of School: Thursday, August 13

Learning options:

Traditional/On-Campus
Remote/At-Home

Safety Precautions:

Students: masks are not required but encouraged.
Employees: masks are not required but encouraged.

More information.

St. Clair County Schools

First Day of School: Wednesday, August 12

Learning Options:

Traditional: classroom-based instruction with school-specific modifications
Full Virtual: fully online instruction with limited face-to-face.
Hybrid: combination of traditional and online learning for each grading period.

Parents will be asked to register for one option by July 17.

Safety Precautions:

Students: As of July 11, students are not required, but are strongly encouraged, to wear masks.
Employees: Required to wear masks any time they cannot maintain a distance of six feet from another person. Required to wear masks in hallways and gathering areas (gym, lunchroom, etc.)

More information.