Middle and high school students will begin remote learning on November 11, while elementary school students will transition on November 16.

Students currently enrolled in in-person learning at Cherry Creek School District schools will transition to fully remote learning over the next two weeks, according to a letter written to families by district Superintendent Scott Siegfried. The decision followed nine days of "red zone" ratings on the district's COVID Tracker dashboard, indicating that the virus is at a "dangerous level" for a sustained amount of time.

Secondary students will transition first because the district is seeing higher rates of infection among older students. Middle school and high school students will have their last in-person day on Friday, November 6, and begin remote learning Wednesday, November 11, giving teachers Monday and Tuesday to prepare. Preschool and elementary school students will continue in-person learning through November 11 and begin remote learning on Monday, November 16.

BREAKING: Cherry Creek School District moving to remote learning amid rising COVID-19 cases #EdColo https://t.co/hypWL5n3by

— The Denver Post (@denverpost) November 5, 2020

"I do not take the decision to switch to remote learning lightly," said Siegfried. "I have said from the beginning that the data will determine whether we have in-person or remote learning, and the data has clearly shown a sustained trend of concerning numbers."

Siegfried said the district's internal data continues to show that spread of the virus is minimal inside schools but that community spread is so significant that the district is seeing increased student and staff cases coming into its schools, which affects its ability to operate. Schools will transition back to in-person learning if and when the district's virus-tracking dashboard indicates a sustained 7-14 day period of "green zone" ratings. Younger students may be able to return more quickly as evidence suggests there are fewer cases among elementary school children, he said.

The letter outlines specific plans around providing technology, free meals, and childcare for impacted students. 

"My hope is that this period of remote learning is short-lived, and students are again in class very soon," Siegfried said.

What do you think of the changes to the Cherry Creek School District? Share your thoughts in the comments below.