The Iowa Department of Education will not allow Des Moines Public Schools to start the school year virtually. | Stock Photo
The Iowa Department of Education will not allow Des Moines Public Schools to start the school year virtually. | Stock Photo
The Iowa Department of Education (DOE) refused Des Moines Public Schools’ (DMPS) request to kick off the school year with digital learning, sparking a lawsuit from the district in an effort to get the DOE to change its mind, Iowa Public Radio reported.
“DMPS tried to work closely with the state, including numerous conversations with the governor and her staff, and the Iowa Department of Education, to develop a plan that meets everyone’s expectations, but unfortunately we are not being provided the flexibility to do what we need to do to continue the education of our more than 32,000 students and protect the health and safety of our students, staff, their families and our community,” DMPS Superintendent Thomas Ahart said, according to Iowa Public Radio.
He added that a happy medium would be for younger grades to have a hybrid plan where a majority of classes would be in-person. He pointed out that it would be difficult for older grades, like high school, to go to school in-person and still practice social distancing.
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