The Massachusetts education commissioner has decided to require all school districts that haven't already done so to provide high school students with full-time, in-person learning by May 17.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in March gave Education Commissioner Jeff Riley the authority to decide when remote and hybrid learning models will no longer count toward required student learning time regulations.
Riley announced the return date on Tuesday, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said waivers will only be considered "in a limited set of circumstances, and any district that does not receive a waiver will be required to make up any missed structured learning time."
There are 146 school districts already fully in-person in kindergarten through grade 12, according to the department. By May 17, a total of 198 districts plan to be back fully in-person across all grades, representing two-thirds of all high schools.
The vaccination landscape for many high school students changed last week when eligibility to receive vaccines was opened up to anyone 16 years old or older. Teachers and school staff have been eligible to be vaccinated since March 11.
The May 17 deadline will give some high schools just a few weeks of in-person learning before the current school year ends.