Massachusetts High Schools Must Offer Fully In-Person Learning By May 17

Determined to bring more students back into classrooms before the end of the school year, the state has set a May 17 deadline for high schools.

All district high schools will be required to offer in-person learning for high school students five days a week by that deadline, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced Tuesday.

According to the state, two-thirds of all high schools were already planning to have school buildings open to students five days a week by May 17. Others that need more time can apply for a waiver from the state.

Districts are required to offer fully in-person instruction for middle school students starting Wednesday, and the elementary school requirement began April 5. With these earlier deadlines, the state had granted at least 60 districts more time to fully reopen buildings, including Boston and Worcester.