Boston Students Won't Be Back Until COVID Numbers Start Improving

BOSTON — The school district is suspending in-person learning for all students amid rising coronavirus rates, effective Thursday. Mayor Marty Walsh and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced the decision in a Wednesday morning email to Boston Public Schools employees.

Students will remain in remote learning until there are two weeks of falling infection rates, the city said. High-needs students will be able to resume in-person learning when the positive test rate is at or below 5 percent for two straight weeks, and a phased-in return for other students — starting with the youngest — would begin if the positive test rate is at or below 4 percent for two straight weeks.

The city’s seven-day average positive test rate is at 5.7 percent, up from 4.5 percent.

"We have said all along that we will only provide in-person learning for students if the data and public health guidance supports it, and this new data shows that we are trending in the wrong direction," Walsh said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor the metrics and work towards our goal of welcoming students back into our classrooms, learning among their peers, supported and educated by our dedicated staff."

The announcement comes a day after Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said schools are not superspreaders for the virus.

"I am heartbroken that today we have to close our doors to our highest need students," Cassellius said. "Our families are desperate for these services for their children, many of whom are non-verbal and unable to use technology in the home."

State data released last week indicated there were 160 confirmed coronavirus cases — 92 students and 68 staff — from Oct. 8-14. Only in-person and hybrid students and staff with building access were counted toward district numbers.

Boston is likely to remain in the red, high-risk group when the state's coronavirus map is updated Wednesday night. Last week's update said there 18,857 confirmed cases and an average daily incidence rate per 100,000 residents of 11.1. That number needs to be under 8 to go back to a lower-risk designation.