Pasadena Unified Set to Welcome Back Students This Week

For the first time in more than a year, some Pasadena Unified schools will reopen for in-person classes this week amid strict safety standards and upgraded campus sanitation measures, although some parents are opting to keep their children learning from home.

Reopenings will be rolled out. Preschool through 2nd grade student cohorts begin returning to campus on Tuesday, depending on their cohort’s schedule. Early Childhood Education programs open at the same time.

Grades 3-5 and 6-12 return on April 20.

PUSD schools are following a hybrid simultaneous model, with student cohorts on campus for in-person learning while other cohorts remain in distance learning.

“This is a tremendous step forward in our recovery from the pandemic,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald. “The past year has sorely tested our community, our country and our world. Our students have felt the loss of loved ones and friends and the loss of opportunities to interact and to celebrate the cherished school traditions that we used to take for granted.”

The new safety standards at schools include free coronavirus testing for students and staff at school sites during the month of April. Symptomatic and asymptomatic testing is also available daily at the PUSD Primary Clinic. Regular voluntary testing will be offered to staff and students.

PUSD employees were first offered the vaccine in January. The District will continue to offer vaccinations to staff and teachers, however, the vaccination status of staff is confidential.

The district said on its website that Indoor class sizes are limited to ensure physical distancing of 6 feet. The majority of classrooms will hold 14 students and up to 2 adults.

LEARNs after school programs will be offered at the elementary and middle schools.

The district also announced it is “in the planning stages for graduation ceremonies.”

Most of California’s 6.1 million students in 1,037 public school districts have been learning from home since last March because of the pandemic. Los Angeles Unified is also reopening this week. Only a few Southland districts — Long Beach, Glendale, Downey and Manhattan Beach — were are among those ahead of PUSD, already welcoming back some students, with most schools operating on a limited schedule and prioritizing the youngest students.

For the latest updated Return to Campus Frequently Asked Questions about Pasadena Unified schedules, safety, ventilation, and more.