March 12, 2021 9:30 a.m.

On Friday, Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order, requiring all Oregon public schools to offer universal access to hybrid or full in-person instruction by the weeks of March 29th for grades K-5, and April 19th for grades 6-12.

Brown said she would be issuing the order in a letter to the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority, last week.

Brown said it was one year ago that she issued her executive order closing Oregon schools for what was then an extended spring break. Brown said, “One year later, thanks to the hard work and smart choices of Oregonians to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, I am so pleased to see over 174,000 students back in the learning environment that serves them best: in-person instruction. Brown said parents can keep their children in distancing learning if they choose, but the order will give every Oregon student the option to return to school this year.

A release said ODE is expected to released updated Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance for school districts early next week, before the March 19th deadline set by the Governor.

A link to the order is posted: https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=54284