Here Are School Reopening Plans For Central Indiana

School districts across Indiana are releasing plans on how they will reopen for the 2020-21 academic year as the coronavirus pandemic continues. All Indiana school buildings closed in March, as required by local or state orders.

WFYI News reviewed 53 available school reopening plans in 11 Central Indiana counties.

Most plans detail how each district will provide instruction to students and keep them and school staff safe through policies, such as social distancing in the classroom, face masks and cleaning schedules.

One other element is common -- school leaders describe the situation as fluid. In dozens of letters to parents, district leaders stress how classroom and school buildings operate, or if they remain open, could change at any moment.

Of the school reopening plans reviewed by WFYI:

• Forty districts are offering an option of full-time in-person or remote instruction.
• Five districts plan to begin the academic year with full-time remote instruction.
• Six districts are following a hybrid model, where students learn in the classroom part of the week, and virtually on other days.
• Two districts plan to have full-time in-person instruction.

Already, some school boards reversed or delayed previously announced reopening policies in response to an increase in COVID-19 infections at the local and state level. State leaders are asking local districts to work with their county health department to create reopening plans.  

Schools are required to submit continuous learning plan to the Indiana Department of Education. Here are summaries of school reopening plans available on district websites or social media as of Tuesday, July 21, 2020: 

Boone County

Lebanon Community School Corp. All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes Aug. 6. Link: District reopening plan

Western Boone Community School District All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are encouraged, but not required for students to attend school. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. School resumes Aug. 6. Link: District reopening plan

Zionsville Community Schools All students K-4 will have the option to attend school five days in person or virtually. 5-12 will be split into cohorts to follow a hybrid model for two in-person instruction days and three virtual. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. Daily health screenings required. School resumes Aug. 4. Link: District reopening plan

Brown County

Brown County School Corporation All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Hamilton County

Carmel Clay Schools All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. School resumes Aug. 11. Link: District reopening plan

Hamilton Heights School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes Aug. 11. Link: District reopening plan

Hamilton Southeastern Schools: All students in K-12 will attend virtually from Aug. 6 through at least Sept. 8. The district will not move to the next phase until identified markers with the Fishers Health Department have ben met. Link: District reopening plan

Noblesville Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Elementary students who choose to go in-person will attend everyday. Middle and high school students will attend on a 50% schedule, alternating days at home and in the school building. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes Aug. 3. Link: District reopening plan

Sheridan Community Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required on the bus and in school buildings. In-person classes resume Aug. 5 and virtual instruction begins Aug. 12. Link: District reopening plan

Westfield-Washington Schools: All students in K-12 will be split into cohorts to follow a hybrid model for two days of in-person instruction and three days virtually. Masks are required on the bus and in school buildings. School resumes Aug. 13. Link: District reopening plan

Hancock County

Eastern Hancock Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily health screenings required. School resumes Aug. 3. Link: District reopening plan

Greenfield-Central Community Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily health screenings required for staff and recommended for students. School resumes July 30. Link: District reopening plan

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required on buses and in school buildings. School resumes July 29. Link: District reopening plan

Southern Hancock Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily health screenings required. School resumes Aug. 3. Link: District reopening plan

Hendricks County

Avon Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. School resumes July 29. Link: District reopening plan

Brownsburg Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. School resumes July 30. Link: District reopening plan 

Danville Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required on buses and in school buildings. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. Daily health screenings required. School resumes Aug. 13. Link: District reopening plan

Mill Creek Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. School resumes July 31. Link: District reopening plan

North West Hendricks Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Plainfield Community School Corporation: All students K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required on buses and in school buildings. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan.

Johnson County

Center Grove Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 6. Link: District reopening plan

Edinburgh Community School Corporation: All schools will be open for in-person instruction. Classrooms will have classes broadcast via Google Meet for students unable to attend. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes July 30. Link: District reopening plan

Franklin Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 17. Link: District reopening plan

Greenwood Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily screenings required. School resumes July 30. Link: District reopening plan

Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Madison County

Alexandria Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Anderson Community Schools: On July 14 the school board changed the plan for for in-person instruction. Now, students will attend virtually from the first day of school until Sept. 8. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Elwood Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily screenings required. School resumes July 30. Link: District reopening plan

Frankton-Lapel Community Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required on buses and in school buildings. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 13. Link: District reopening plan

South Madison Community School District: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required on buses and in school buildings. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 6. Link: District reopening plan

Marion County

Beech Grove City Schools: All students in K-12 will begin the school year with virtual-only instruction. On Aug. 10, all students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or continue the online option. Students in grades 7-12 will follow a hybrid model, where students learn in the classroom part-time. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. School resumes July 30. Link: District reopening plan

Decatur Township: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. Daily screenings recommended. School resumes Aug. 3. Link: District reopening plan

Franklin Township Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. Students enrolled in the remote learning option can not take part in extracurricular or athletic activities. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 3. Link: District reopening plan

Indianapolis Public Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. School resumes Aug. 17. Link: District reopening plan

Lawrence Township: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. School resumes Aug. 13. Daily screenings required. Link: District reopening plan

Perry Township: Students K-5 will have the option to return 5 days per week in person or virtually. Students 6-12 will follow a hybrid model. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. Students attending the virtual option are allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. Daily screenings required. School resumes July 29. Link: District reopening plan

Pike Township: All students in K-12 will return to school virtually. There is a potential to phase in in-person instruction following Labor Day. School resumes Aug. 11. Link: District reopening plan. 

Speedway Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are required for all students in school buildings and on the bus. School resumes Aug. 4. Link: District reopening plan

Warren Township: Students K-5 will have 5 day per week of in-person instruction. Students 6-12 will alternate days in and out of the classroom. All students will have a virtual option. Masks are required on buses and in school buildings. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 6. Link: District reopening plan

Washington Township: All students K-12 will begin virtual classes July 30. The Washington Township School Board has not determined when in-person classes will resume. Link: District reopening plan

Wayne Township: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students in 4-12 are required to wear a mask. Students in K-3 are required to have a mask with them at all times. Students attending the virtual option are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 12. Link: District reopening plan

Morgan County

Eminence Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Face masks are required inside the school building and on the bus. School resumes Aug. 6. Link: District reopening plan

Martinsville Schools: All students K-12 will attend in-person classes 4 days per week. Wednesdays will be used for sanitizing the school. Accomodations for full-time virtual learning can be made. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes Aug. 12. Link: District reopening plan

Monroe-Gregg School District: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Mooresville School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Putnam County

Cloverdale Community Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. School resumes Aug. 6. Link: District reopening plan

Greencastle Community School Corporation: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Students attending the virtual option are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

North Putnam Community Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Masks are encouraged, but not required for students. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 10. Link: District reopening plan

South Putnam Community Schools: All students K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. School resumes Aug. 10. Link: District reopening plan

Shelby County

Northwestern Consolidated School District: All schools will be open for in-person instruction. Face masks are recommended, but not required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Shelbyville Central Schools: All students in K-12 can choose to attend in-person classes or an online option. Students will be asked to wear face masks at appropriate times. Students attending the virtual option are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. Daily screenings required. School resumes Aug. 5. Link: District reopening plan

Southwestern Consolidated School Corporation: All schools will be open for in-person instruction. Families interested in remote learning should contact their student's principal. Face masks are recommended but not required. Students attending the virtual option are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. School resumes Aug. 4. Link: District reopening plan

This story will be updated.

Contact WFYI education reporter Eric Weddle at eweddle@wfyi.org or call (317) 614-0470. Follow on Twitter: @ericweddle.