Latest News

We have answers to questions about our return to in-person learning this fall. The questions were generated during and after the informational webinar for families regarding the start of school. We have posted answers to the questions rated as most important by participants.

This week, we experienced a delay in updating our COVID dashboard, which shows all reported positive COVID cases in our schools. Our practice is to update the dashboard every 24 hours. 

In the last week, our COVID response team has reported that posting new cases has taken longer than 24 hours for two reasons.

Our top priority as we start the new school year is the safety of our staff, students and families. We are following the latest guidance from our state and local public health authorities. Please read up on our updated health and safety measures and view our on-demand staff safety webinar.

All K-12 school employees are eligible to be vaccinated now. If you have not yet been vaccinated, you can find vaccinate locations through these websites

You may be aware that the CDC has updated it’s guidance on face coverings for people who are vaccinated. There has been no change to the state mask requirement. We want to make clear that all staff, students and visitors are still required to wear masks in schools and worksites.

Families are being asked to indicate if they will send their students to school in person for the 2021-22 school year or elect a remote option. We are planning for a full reopening of all schools for students PreK through 12. We also recognize some families have health concerns that may lead them to choose remote learning.

All families are being sent a link to a selection form. It must be completed by May 27.

Next fall, we plan to reopen schools for in-person instruction, five full days a week for students in Pre-K through grade 12, as long as public health authorities continue to support in-person learning. Families will be able to choose a remote learning option.

We continue to monitor COVID activity data published by Public Health - Seattle & King County. As of the time of this posting, King County continues to experience a resurgence in COVID-19 cases. 

Are you wondering how many secondary students chose to return for in-person learning? The data is in. Of those responding, around 40% of students are choosing hybrid learning, and 60% prefer to stay remote. We are still waiting to hear back from some families and expect those numbers to change slightly.

Due to how secondary instruction is structured in content areas, all requests approved by Human Resources were level 4 high-risk requests. HR is working with individuals who did not receive approval to explore further options prior to considering a leave.

The transition to hybrid in-person learning will continue with our middle and high school students on April 19.  We want everyone to be prepared when it's their turn to go back to school. We created a video to show our safety expectations in action. The video is available in multiple languages. Please share these videos with students and families.

All staff are invited to a webinar on Friday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to hear directly from Sid White, Director of Facilities Services, about air quality and ventilation in our school buildings and mitigation measures to ensure ventilation meets COVID safety standards. 

Wondering about state testing, COVID testing and lunch safety? We have answers. Here are this week's Hybrid Hot Topics.

Governor Inslee has announced a change to the six-foot distancing rule in schools. Schools now have the option to reduce physical distancing to three feet between students who are in a class or cohort. We do not plan to change our Highline distancing standard this spring.

What has been done to improve ventilation in schools? Will Highline change to three-foot distancing? Will secondary students be reassigned to different teachers in hybrid? 

Here are this week's hybrid hot topics.

Highline Public Schools can provide testing to Highline staff and students after a report of a positive COVID case at your site. We can send the COVID test team to a school or worksite upon being informed of a positive COVID case. Learn more and how to register for a test.

Superintendent Susan Enfield updates families and staff on the Governor's emergency proclomation to return students to school buildings means for Highline.

We will start hybrid learning for all middle and high school grades on April 19, as mandated by Governor Jay Inslee. The Governor's order requires schools to provide 30% of weekly instructional time in-person to students who choose hybrid learning. Students may choose to remain in fully remote learning.

When students arrived for the first day of hybrid learning on March 11, they were greeted in person by their teacher for the first time in exactly a year.  Students and staff wear masks, wash and sanitize hands frequently, and stay at a distance as much as possible. While these routines are new, being together in person instantly made students more engaged. 

It is almost one year to the day since the pandemic closed our school buildings to students, staff and families. Today we welcomed back Pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade students, as well as students in our IAC program in grades K-12 across the district.

As we continue to navigate this ever-changing school year amid double pandemics of COVID-19 and racism, much of what is going on in the world is out of our control. However, one place where we can exert power is through the boundaries we set. Learn types of boundaries and what actions to take to create yours.

As we continue to support students during remote and hybrid learning across our system, our partnerships with families are more important than ever. To support family partnerships around SEL, we continue to update resources for families and staff. Explore the resources.

The masks can't hide the smiles! Thursday was the first day back at a brick-and-mortar school for about 1,500 Highline students. It was also the first day of in-person school ever for many preschool and kindergarten students!

We know 2020 probably didn’t go as planned. That’s why the SEBB Program is offering employees extra flexibility with their 2020 Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement and Dependent Care Assistance Program funds. Learn more about the changes you can make. 

Working with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s St. Anne Hospital, we arranged a COVID vaccination clinic this weekend. Together, we vaccinated nearly 1,000 people who are now eligible.