Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced Friday that all school districts in Massachusetts are required to bring back high school students for in-person learning by May 17, 2021.
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Since April 5, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has been working to bring back all elementary schools for in-person learning. Middle schools are set to begin phasing back to in-person learning April 28.
All school districts must comply unless they receive a waiver from DESE, which the Commissioner says will only be considered in a limited set of circumstances. Any district that does not receive a waiver will be required to make up any missed learning time.
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The news comes as the state and CDC both announce eased restrictions on face coverings.