Just as they finished the last school year, Miami-Dade public school students will start the upcoming school year with online classes only on August 31. The Miami-Dade School Board made the announcement at a special meeting on Wednesday and the decision applies to all students regardless of how parents indicated on a recent survey whether they preferred their children to go to school in person or take classes online. 

The return to classes will be a week later than originally planned (Aug. 24) but there will be a week of orientation planned before classes as the district unveils a uniform platform for all students called My School Online. 

Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho had previously said the school system was prepared to offer in-person schooling at the start of the school year but acknowledged that the spike in COVID-19 cases locally made doing so unwise. 

“In light of the viral surge in our community, we believe it is in the best interest of our students and employees to delay the return to the schoolhouse and commence the 2020-2021 school year from a distance,” Carvalho said. 

While public schools in Miami-Dade will start the year without in-person instruction, after-school programs, including those funded by The Children’s Trust, are still determining how they will provide services to students and families in the county.  

In the meantime, students and parents can continue to visit StayHome.Miami for a variety of educational, engaging and fun activities.