During the July Board Meeting, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced that our district will be moving to full remote to begin the 2020-2021 school year. Since COVID-19 became part of our daily life here in Cobb, the Superintendent has relied on state and county public health experts to inform decision-making which prioritizes student and staff safety.

“This decision has been weighing on me for a while. I know we need to get back to face-to-face instruction. That is why we tried to offer parents two options—in-person and remote—to start the school year. Unfortunately, public health guidance does not make that possible,” said Superintendent Ragsdale. Our teachers are awesome, and they will continue to do an awesome job virtually, but nothing takes the place of in person instruction from our Cobb County teachers. I am not setting a timeline for how long our students will engage in virtual learning. We will continue to monitor the data and work with public health officials so we can open for face-to-face instruction as soon as humanly possible.”

As the Superintendent said, this was not an easy decision to make and our team made every effort to keep our face-to-face classrooms available. However, based on the most up-to-date public health guidance and data in Cobb County, we really only had one choice. We will remain fully remote until public health data in Cobb County changes and guidance from state and local public health officials recommends it. At this time, the District is not postponing or delaying the start of fall athletics. We will continue to follow the direction of GHSA. However, other extracurricular activities (ASP, after school clubs) will be suspended until after students return for face-to-face instruction.

This decision is motivated by a commitment to keep our students and staff healthy and safe. We are equally committed to ensuring that learning can happen everywhere. As teachers return for the 2020-2021 school year, all teachers will be trained in effective remote learning practices, and the District will be providing as many devices (including tablets and laptops) as possible to students who do not have devices at home. Details about device distribution to families in need will be communicated through your local school.

Thanks to years of investment, and the recent commitment to education made by the Cobb Commissioners, Cobb Schools is better prepared for a move to full remote than most districts. Students, teachers, and parents will be able to login to one platform for all student learning during the fall of 2020. The Cobb Teaching and Learning System (CTLS) will be introduced to all parents and students and will enable learning to happen effectively and conveniently from a remote classroom or the living room.  

"Our teachers are why this county has one of the best districts in the country," said Board Chair Brad Wheeler. "Teaching and learning remotely will be a challenge just because it is so different but keeping our staff and students safe is number one. If anyone can make remote learning effective, it is this county, with our teachers, and our leadership. We have prepared for this, we have invested for this scenario, and we will be teaching students until this COVID thing has run its course." 

We do look forward to students returning to face-to-face classrooms as soon as public health guidance and data allows for it, and we will continue to keep the community updated at www.cobbk12.org.   

Details for the 2020-2021 school year will continue to be found at www.cobblearningeverywhere.com. Check back often for updates as they become available.

UPDATED 7/17 - Does Your Family Need a Device?

If your family needs access to a device, please log in to ParentVUE, then click "Back to School Choice" from the menu bar on the left, then click "Full Remote", then click "My child does not have access to a device, and I am requesting one."