FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order Monday urging all Kentucky schools to offer some form of in-person instruction by March 1 or seven days after educators get their second vaccine dose. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Beshear issues Executive Order for schools to begin in-person instruction

  • Kentucky on pace to be first state in the nation to have all of its teachers fully vaccinated

  • Only five districts out of the Commonwealth's 171 are not offering any in-person instruction

  • The decision to repopen schools lies with each district's school board

This move comes as Kentucky remains on pace to be the first state in the nation to get every teacher who wants to be vaccinated, their second doses. Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Jason Glass applauded Beshear for prioritizing teachers.

“As we finish up getting our educators largely vaccinated then we transition toward opening our schools more for in-person learning,” Glass said.

Beshear said he prioritized educators because he thought it was important for getting students back in-person. For weeks, educators across the state have been getting COVID-19 vaccines, but not all districts are back to offering in-person instruction.

“At the end of the day, we didn’t vaccinate our educators for nothing. We did this because we all know we need some form of in-person learning,“ Beshear said shortly after announcing his executive order.

According to the Kentucky School Boards Association, only five districts out of the Commonwealth's 171 are not offering any in-person instruction opportunities at this time.

 

A new executive order from Governor Andy Beshear recommends schools return to in-person instruction by March 1. (As of...

Posted by KSBA on Tuesday, February 23, 2021

However, four of those districts do have plans for reopening soon. Dr. Glass said schools will have flexibility on the format for reopening.

“Our schools are largely in-person already. Many of them are using hybrid models to get some students in and some students out. It will really depend on each district as to how they respond to this, but the governor’s executive order opens some more possibilities for in-person learning than we had previously,” Glass said.

Beshear said this executive order is just a strong recommendation. It is not a requirement. With that in mind, the ultimate decision is up to the school boards. 

Jefferson County Public Schools is the only district that has yet to name a reopening date. During the JCPS School Board meeting Tuesday, it was announced that there will be a vote Thursday.

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