Find 2021-22 school start dates here.
This time of year, we traditionally start to think about and look forward to the kids going back to school. As we are in the middle of a pandemic, this year has been a lot more stressful and will ultimately look a lot different. After Governor Reynolds announced that schools would reopen this fall, districts across Iowa have been firming plans for the upcoming school year. And, parents are having to make decisions, whether to send their kids back to school in person or opt for remote learning. Read on to find out what a return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic will look like in Central Iowa.
If you’re trying to squeeze every exciting moment out of summer you can, be sure to check out our Summer Fun Guide and Event Calendar. And, be sure to check out our Back to School Fun Guide for additional tips and resources for a successful start to the new school year.
Please confirm with your local school district to verify starting dates and Return to Learn Plans. As with any type of event and activity taking place this year, schedules and plans are fluid and subject to change.
Here’s the School Start Dates & Plans for 2020-21 by Central Iowa school district:
Monday, August 17, 2020
Bondurant Farrar Community School District
The Bondurant-Farrar School Board approved a “Hybrid Learning Model” for the 2020-2021 school year. The school district will offer a mix of on- and off- sight learning to keep school capacity at 50%. To accommodate families who do not feel comfortable with the Hybrid Learning Model, BFCSD will provide a Virtual Instruction Only option for students in grades K-12. Students and staff will be required to wear masks or face shields.
Van Meter Community School District
Families can choose for their child to attend 100% on-site, 100% online, or a hybrid of those two models. Masks are not required at this time for students but suggested when physical distancing isn’t possible. Everyone who enters the building will need to have a mask available to wear when needed. Staff will be required to wear masks.
Monday, August 24, 2020
Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District
The ADM Board of Education voted to start the 2020-21 school year using ADM’s On-Site Learning Plan that includes parent choice for remote learning. They also revised the academic calendar. Students in grades 3-12 are required to have a mask when they arrive at school or enter a school bus.
Ankeny Community School District
The Ankeny Board of Education approved the Hybrid Model as their Return to Learn Plan on July 27, 2020. Hybrid Learning is a combination of remote and on-site learning, incorporating best practices of both models. When a six-foot interval is not feasible and predictable, a mask is required. A mask is required for visitors entering an ACSD facility.
Carlisle Community School District
Carlisle CSD will reopen schools in fall 2020 with two options for instruction. Option 1 is In-Person Instruction in a Carlisle school building with physical distancing. Option 2 is Full-time Remote (Online) Instruction. Face coverings will be required to be worn by students, staff and visitors throughout the day when physical distancing (within 6 feet) guidelines cannot be strictly enforced unless there is a medical or religious reason one cannot be worn.
Interstate 35 Community Schools
Based on the guidelines from the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Governor’s Office, and the Iowa Department of Education, Interstate 35 Community Schools is proposing to start the school year In Person. Face coverings will be required to be worn by students, staff and visitors throughout the day when physical distancing (within 6 feet) guidelines cannot be strictly enforced unless there is a medical or religious reason one cannot be worn.
North Polk School District
North Polk School District intends to begin the school year (a day earlier) with Onsite, in person learning for the majority of students. Identified families may choose a virtual option due to underlying health conditions or general safety concerns. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, face coverings will be required for students and staff while on district buses and in buildings.
Norwalk Community School District
The district is considering the three different Return to Learn Plan options and has prepared a draft plan with a final decision to be made in August. Face coverings (nose and mouth) are required for students, if social distancing can’t be maintained, and required for staff and visitors. Waivers of these requirements may be granted for religious and medical reasons as required by law.
Southeast Polk Community School District
The Southeast Polk Community School District is proposing to offer students two options: Onsite Learning or Online Learning. All students and staff are required to wear face coverings, especially when social distancing cannot be achieved.
Woodward Granger Community School District
The Board has not finalized the district’s Return to Learn Plan. At the July 20th Board meeting the district stated it’s intent to open the doors back up for in-person instruction and remote learning will be available upon parental request. The Board also intends to implement a mask policy for K-12 students, teacher and staff.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Saydel School District
The Saydel School District has chosen the Full Occupancy/Onsite Learning Model unless conditions force the school district to move to another model. They are strongly encouraging and expecting students to wear masks on campus.
Indianola Community Schools
ICSD will begin the school year in a hybrid model of continuous learning. Students attend school on campus for in-person instruction five days per week. They will be dismissed 90 minutes early each day. Or, parents may select remote learning for their student(s).The district will be requiring face coverings for staff and middle school and high school students when physical distancing can’t be achieved, and encouraging face coverings for younger students.
Urbandale Community School District
Urbandale Community School District will begin the school year using a hybrid model. Half of their students will attend school in-person Tuesday and Thursday or Wednesday and Friday in addition to alternating Mondays. Families will also have the option of online learning classes for their children. All Urbandale CSD staff, K-12 students, vendors, visitors, and spectators are required to wear a face mask while in district buildings and when riding a school bus.
Waukee Community School District
The school start date for in person school was changed and there will be no school on Friday, August 28. On-line students school start date has been moved to August 31, 2020. Students in Waukee have two Return to Learn options: attend school in person or on-line. WCSD staff will be expected to use some form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) based on their role. This may include wearing a face shield, face mask, and/or gloves. Students will be required to wear a face covering.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Dallas Center Grimes Community School District
The DCG School Board has approved a hybrid model for grades PK-12 for the first semester. The purpose of the Hybrid plan is to provide an approach to instruction that allows fifty percent of students to attend on-site in-person learning. Students will be divided into two groups; Group A will attend in building Monday and Tuesday; Group B will attend in building Thursday and Friday. Groups will alternate between A and B every other Wednesday. If families do not want their children to return to school in person there are two online learning options to choose from. Students in grades Pk-12 are required to have a face covering when on-site at DCG. A mask, neck gaiter, or face shield is accepted as a face mask and will be required when social distancing is not possible.
Pleasantville Community School District
The Pleasantville Community Schools will begin the first two weeks of school using “SmartStart” and will utilize a new and innovative school calendar to phase-in their full return to school by September 14th. They will also offer a virtual learning option for parents who wish to choose that model for the child(ren). Staff are required to wear masks at school. As outlined in the PCSD SmartStart return to learn plan, students are encouraged to wear masks M-Th during the 2-week hybrid phase-in period. Students are required to wear masks on Fridays during the early dismissal days where all students are on campus. The status of masks for students past September 11th will be determined at a later date and announced by the school district. Masks are required on school buses.
West Des Moines Community School District
On Monday, July 13, the WDMCS Board of Education approved WDMCS administration’s return-to-learn plan and recommendation to start the school year. Families will choose between online and on-site learning. Staff and students will be required to wear masks. Additionally, the district’s school board unanimously voted to push the start of the school year from Aug. 26 to Aug. 27 to give teachers an extra day to prepare for a term that will likely have additional challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 31, 2020
Johnston Community School District
The derecho storm caused major damage, requiring the postponement to the start of the school year. The Johnston School Board voted to return to school in a hybrid model for grades K-12. In this model, one group of students will go Monday, Tuesday, and every other Wednesday. The other group will go Thursday, Friday, and the alternate Wednesday. They will be operating the hybrid model for at least the first quarter of the school year (first nine weeks). Families also have the ability to choose to enroll in a 100% required online learning plan, where all work will be done outside of school. Facial coverings will be mandatory for all staff and students. When appropriate, face shields may be worn.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Des Moines Public Schools
Des Moines Public Schools is working on the following changes to their Return to Learn plan:
- Delay the start of the school year to shortly after Labor Day. Professional Development days currently scheduled throughout the year would be held prior to the start of classes so that the 2020-21 school year ends as currently scheduled.
- The 2020-21 school year would begin fully virtual across all grade levels.
- As soon as it is safe to do so, DMPS would transition to the hybrid learning model for elementary and middle school students who registered for that plan.
- High school classes would most likely be held entirely online for the Fall semester, with the exception of some in-person classes at Central Campus.
Did we miss your school? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
