Maryland governor gives OK for schools to have some in-person instruction

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday that all county school systems in the state are authorized to fully reopen.

Speaking at a news conference, Hogan said the school systems have met a set of new benchmarks that will allow some in-person instruction during the coronavirus pandemic, The Baltimore Sun reported.

“Finding a way to return children to classrooms must be a priority,” Hogan said. “There is no substitute for in-person instruction.

“It’s essential we all work together on flexible hybrid plans to safely get some of our kids back into classrooms.”

Hogan was joined by Maryland State Department of Education Superintendent Karen Salmon and Maryland Department of Health Acting Deputy Secretary Jinlene Chan, WJZ reported. The three officials provided a list of metrics recommended by the state’s health and education departments, which should be used to determine whether schools should fully reopen, use a hybrid system or rely on remote learning, the television station reported.

Our mitigation efforts have been extremely successful,” Hogan said. “Our health metrics are doing much better than most of the rest of the country.”

Jurisdictions that are both below 5% test positivity and five cases per 100,000 people should have the ability to hold in-person instruction with proper guidance, Chan said.

Hogan said 17 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions have positivity rates below 3%, WBFF reported.

Hogan said the state does not have the authority to order local districts to reopen, but said they would be encouraged to weigh the possibility, the Sun reported.

“We’re going to do what we can within the law, but we’re not going to change state law to take away the authority of school boards,” Hogan said.

Cox Media Group