On a day when over 800 new cases of COVID-19 and under 200 recoveries were confirmed in Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds announced all school districts should focus on in-person learning this fall.

In a press conference Friday, she spoke of the disaster proclamation she signed that she hopes provides clarity for when schools may offer primarily remote learning. The proclamation states the presumed method of instruction for the upcoming school year shall be in-person and prohibits schools “from providing instruction primarily through remote-learning without explicit authorization in a proclamation of public health emergency.”

A parent or guardian may voluntarily select remote learning provided by the school district within its return to learn plan. Schools may move to remote learning for a classroom, an entire building or the whole district temporarily if approved by the Iowa Department of Education in consultation with public health due to public health conditions.

The proclamation also expands remote learning to be an option during inclement weather for up to five days and expands the pool of substitute teachers by removing limitations.

Reynolds said the use of masks or face shields will be left up to local school districts.
As of Friday, Iowa has 37,668 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 73% recovered and 782 deaths. In Washington County there have been 257 cases with 228 recovered and nine deaths.