COLORADO, USA — With hospitalizations related to COVID-19 higher than they've ever been in Colorado and widespread community transmission, many school districts have shifted to 100% remote learning.
As of Nov. 16, more than 1,290 people were in the hospital being treated for the virus and the positivity rate climbed to nearly 12.61%, which is well above the 5% benchmark recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Below are the school districts that have moved to remote learning in an effort to slow transmission of the virus.
27J Schools
Middle and high schools students move to remote learning on Dec. 1. Elementary students will go remote starting Dec. 2. District officials said elementary teachers need one extra day to prepare and learn the online teaching system since they are less familiar with the system. The district plans for remote learning to last until at least Jan. 12, 2021.
27J Schools has more than 18,000 students in parts of Adams, Broomfield and Weld counties.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
During the week of Nov. 16, the last students will transition to remote learning. Instruction following the Thanksgiving break will continue remotely through the conclusion of the fall semester for students on Dec. 17.
Adams 12 serves more than 39,000 students in Adams County, which moved to Safer at Home Level Orange effective Oct. 28 due to COVID-19 incidence rates that were nearly double what they needed to be to stay in the less restrictive level.
Aurora Public Schools
In late October, the district said almost all students were moving to remote learning.
The following groups of students will continue with in-person learning:
- Preschool and kindergarten students
- Students with special needs on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) who require in-person learning
- Newcomer students who are in the early stages of English language development
- Career and Technical Education students at Pickens Technical College
Boulder Valley School District
The Boulder Valley School Board said in a meeting on Nov. 10 that they are making the shift to remote learning starting Tuesday for all students with the potential to return in-person on Jan. 5, given COVID-19 cases improve.
Students with intensive needs will be considered for limited group instruction if safety protocols allow.
Though not in consideration for the coming week, the board said they would be reviewing childcare options similar to those they implemented in March, with the possibility of expansion.
Cherry Creek School District
Following at least nine days in the "red zone" on the district's COVID Tracker, the decision was made to shift to remote learning. The last in-person day for any students will be Nov. 11. Preschool and elementary students will have Thursday and Friday and move to remote learning beginning on Nov. 16. The district said it will stay with remote learning through at least the end of the semester.
Denver Public Schools
The school district announced Nov. 18 in a news release that all grades K-12 are to shift to remote learning starting Nov. 30, through the end of the semester. This includes a shift to remote learning for special-education and newcomer center programs.
DPS said they are dedicated to returning students in January.
Students in second grade and below were learning in person and the district had planned to reevaluate after Thanksgiving whether to return students in grades three to five for in-person learning.
Douglas County School District
Because of a change in Douglas County's status change to Level Orange with increased restrictions, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) announced that all grades preschool to grade 12 will move to 100% remote learning following Thanksgiving break. Students begin remote learning on Monday, Nov. 30.
DCSD posted an interactive COVID-19 Tracker for families to better understand the number of cases in schools.
Greeley-Evans District 6
Beginning on Monday, Nov. 16 the Greeley-Evans school district will move all high schools to remote learning. Students are expected to log in on Monday to follow their regular schedules. Students in K-8 will move to 100% remote on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The district said a third of schools have been closed and they continue to see see numerous quarantines. They said they are contract tracing more than 3,000 students and staff currently under quarantine and they are unable to manage the large amount of cases.
The superintendent noted that most of the cases have been linked back to a positive family member or a gathering or party.
Jeffco Public Schools
The school district announced Thursday, that students in grades 6-12 will move to 100% remote learning on Monday, Nov. 16. Elementary students in K-5 will attend 100% in-person learning until Nov. 19 and then transition to fully remote beginning Nov. 30.
Classes will continue remotely until winter break when district staff will reevaluate student and staff safety. Preschool, district childcare and students with disabilities continue in-person learning.
Littleton Public Schools
The school district said in a news release on Wednesday, that students will return to remote learning beginning Nov. 16 through Dec. 18, the end of the semester.
Monday, Nov. 16 will be a non-student day for teachers, staff and families to prepare for the transition. TOPS and schools/programs that are already online will continue their normal schedule.
The district said they are hopeful they can bring students back in the Spring on Jan 5. Childcare is not provided, but free meals will continue to be provided for all students in the district.
Poudre School District
With cases of COVID-19 rising at an alarming rate in Larimer County, the district announced that all grade levels will shift to Phase 1: Remote Learning on Nov. 23. That change will stay in place through winter break.
The district will update students and families about their plans for Jan. 5 and beyond at a later date. In the meantime, they'll be monitoring the situation through December to determine how to proceed
Sheridan School District 2
Despite having zero student-to-student transmission, superintendent Pat Sandos announced the district would move to remote learning. He said the decision was made due to the community spread of the virus.
RELATED: 'Very difficult': Sheridan Schools superintendent talks about making the tough decision to go remote
He said he plans to keep track of the data and look at possibly reopening campuses the week of Nov. 30 if the number of COVID-19 cases start to drop.
Westminster Public Schools
The school district moved to remote learning on Nov. 2 after extensive consultation with the Tri-County Health Department. The district said on Saturday, Nov. 14, the district would continue to suspend in-person learning through winter break.
More information on the district's COVID-19 plan can be found here.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Local stories from 9NEWS