• On August 17, the Shoreline School Board heard a presentation focused on the fall return to school planning. Deputy Superintendent Marla Miller and Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Maria Stevens presented details around instruction, supports, and health and safety measures. Below is a summary of the presentation. You can find the presentation slides here or view a recording of the study session here. Video captions in English, Spanish, and Chinese are currently being processed and will be added as soon as they are available.

    You can also find frequently asked questions and answers regarding return to school plans here. If you have additional questions that are not answered on that page, please email our Public Information Office at public.info@shorelineschools.org.

    Teaching and Learning

    • Students will attend school full-time, in-person each school day.
    • Regularly scheduled Early Release Wednesday will continue. You can find early release dates on our website calendar and early release times here.
    • Elementary students will receive a full instructional program, including P.E., music, science and all core subject areas following all required health and safety protocols.
    • Middle and high school students will follow a six-period schedule with all subject areas available as scheduled.
    • Bus transportation will be provided for eligible students.
    • Due to staffing and funding considerations, Shoreline Schools does not plan to offer our own remote learning program. However, any student can register for a remote learning program offered by other school districts or entities approved by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). A list of approved online learning programs can be found here. If you need assistance using OSPI’s online program search tool, please contact our Public Information Office at 206-393-4412. Additionally, we are exploring a partnership with the Puget Sound Educational Service District to offer a remote learning program to Shoreline students that would allow them to remain enrolled in our school district. If this becomes an option, additional information will be shared.
    • Staff will focus on meeting the social and emotional needs of students to support school and classroom environments where all students feel seen, heard and valued.
    • The first few weeks of school will focus on creating a positive and caring community. Students and teachers will spend time learning about one another, building connections and establishing trust within the learning community. Students and teachers will work together to create a safe, respectful, kind and responsible environment for all. They will develop classroom norms, routines and procedures. Students will learn about the daily and weekly schedule and how to use the learning tools and resources.
    • We will continue to engage and develop partnerships with families to support their student’s needs.

    Health and Safety Protocols

    • At a minimum, schools will follow guidance from the Washington Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and other federal and state agencies with jurisdiction. You can find DOH’s K-12 COVID Requirements for the 2021-2022 School Year (updated August 11, 2021) here and L&I’s Requirements and Guidance for Preventing COVID-19 here.
    • Students are required to wear face masks while on school campuses (indoors and outside), on school buses, and anywhere while engaged in school-sponsored activities. If a student arrives without a mask, one will be provided to them.
    • Staff are required to wear masks whenever students are or may be present. Fully vaccinated staff may remove masks when no students are present and staff are working in an enclosed space.
    • Students will maintain a physical distance of three (3) or more feet from other students in classroom settings to the degree possible and reasonable that allows for full-time, in-person learning for all students. Procedures will be established to maintain six (6) or more feet of physical distance in hallways, cafeterias, and other non-classroom large group settings, to the extent possible. Staff will maintain six (6) feet of social distance from students and other staff members when possible. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided to staff who are required to work with students in closer proximity.
    • A COVID-19 vaccination is not required for students to attend school. However, COVID-19 vaccinations are strongly encouraged for those 12 and older as recommended by local, state, and federal public health officials.
    • By state mandate, all staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021, unless they have a medical or religious exemption. The District will be working with employee organizations to confirm the impact of implementation of this mandate.
    • Staff or students who are potentially exposed to COVID-19 at school will be contacted by the school and public health officials with information on required and recommended steps to take, including testing and quarantining.
    • Fully vaccinated students and staff who are exposed to COVID-19 will not need to quarantine if they do not have any symptoms.
    • Schools will communicate with families and staff as needed when a positive case is reported.
    • There will be no on-site COVID-19 testing at schools. Information will be provided for nearby free rapid testing.
    • The school district will post a weekly and year-to-date summary of positive cases by school and worksite.
    • Only students and staff will be allowed in schools, at least for the beginning of the school year. Parents/guardians needing to conduct school business can do so via email, phone, or Zoom teleconference. If they have business that must be done in person, they can contact their school’s office to arrange an in-person appointment.
    • There are no daily health attestations this year for students and staff. Families are asked to keep their children at home if they are ill or have any symptoms of COVID-19 that are not explained by other medical conditions. Staff will continue to sign in to buildings and student attendance will be taken for use in contact tracing if needed.
    • There will be frequent handwashing or use of hand sanitizer.
    • Students are required to distance six (6) feet during meals when they have their masks off. During school meals, we will use available cafeteria, gym, and covered outdoor space for students to eat while distanced from each other. Weather permitting, additional outdoor space can be used. Mats will be provided for elementary students to sit on.
    • Schools will be cleaned and disinfected each night using disinfectants approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use against COVID-19.
    • Ventilation will meet all Centers for Disease Control and Department of Health requirements, including the use of MERV 13 air filters and increased airflow.
    • When riding the school bus, masks are required and social distancing will be observed whenever practical. Students will be assigned seats and paired with siblings or household members whenever possible.