Bridgeport Public Schools

April 30, 2021

The Bridgeport Public Schools, the Office of the Governor, the Connecticut Department of Education and the Connecticut Department of Public Health have consistently reinforced throughout the pandemic that access to in person teaching and learning is a priority. We know that the pandemic has had a profound impact on the social emotional well-being of our children and have learned a great deal as a result of its disruption to the educational process.

Bridgeport Public Schools recognizes that we must continue to evolve in the way we provide teaching and learning to our children.  However, we must return back to full in person teaching and learning in order to provide children with the care and support they so desperately need to grow and succeed in life.

We have received Interim Guidance for Remote Learning for the 2021-2022 School Year from the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). This guidance speaks to the importance of in-person education and states:

There is no current requirement under Connecticut or federal law that after the period of emergency this school year, school districts are mandated to provide all students voluntary daily access to remote learning at the unilateral request of the student/family. The requirement that school districts provide temporary remote learning opportunities for all parents and students provided in the  Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut's Plan to Learn and Grow Together, and Addendum 1, Temporarily Opting into Voluntary Remote Learning Due to COVID-19 will no longer be in place after this school year. 

Considering this, the Bridgeport Public Schools will no longer provide an option for students and their families to opt-in to a remote teaching model after this school year ends. All Bridgeport Public Schools will be open full time to in person learning to all students. 

Bridgeport Public Schools and the Bridgeport Board of Education will remain committed to ensuring that there is a safe and healthy learning environment for the entire BPS community. Bridgeport Public schools will continue to provide all PPE and follow all mitigation and quarantine requirements as required by CSDE and DPH. We are excited to welcome back all our students in September!

Michael J. Testani
Superintendent of Schools