To find the latest information regarding hybrid learning, at a school or district-wide please visit www.gilbertschools.net/families where you will find the latest parent communications and updates from the district.

The hybrid instructional delivery model splits students into two groups. Students with the last name A-L will attend school on Mondays and Thursdays. Students with the last name M-Z will attend school in-person on Tuesdays and Fridays. All students will participate in virtual learning on Wednesdays and the days they are not on campus. 

As of December 3, we can now confirm that Gilbert Public Schools has met the data benchmarks in two of the three Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County Health metrics, for two consecutive weeks.  To view this data please click here.  Following the approved Governing Board motion of November 4, 2020, Gilbert Public Schools will now move to a temporary hybrid-learning model district-wide beginning Monday December, 7, until the end of this semester.  Further updates will be provided regarding the beginning of the next semester.

This decision has been made based on the data and guidance provided to us by both Arizona Department of Health and Maricopa County Health.  At this time, the number of COVID-19 cases within our community continues to rise.  Moving temporarily to a hybrid instructional delivery model is a preventative measure, designed as an additional mitigation strategy to prevent further spread of COVID-19 within our community.  At all times our goal is to promote the health and safety of our students, staff and community, while delivering high-quality education for all of our students. Please be assured that our teachers, administrators and support staff are ready to support all of our students to continue their education during this time.

Transportation to EVIT from GPS schools will continue during hybrid learning, all five days.  On Wednesdays students will need to get to their high school on their own in order to take the bus to EVIT.

In the event of an individual school reaching the percentages below for active cases per campus population, a decision may be made for that school to move temporarily to a hybrid instructional delivery model for a minimum of 14 days.  This approach is designed to be a preventative measure that will act as an additional mitigation strategy and help to prevent further spread of COVID-19.  As per the Governing Board motion approved on November 4, the Superintendent will make the final decision based on confirmed active positive cases reported on a weekly basis on the Gilbert Public Schools COVID-19 dashboard.

Percent (%) of active cases of COVID-19 per school population:

• 1% for High Schools
• 1.5 % for Junior High Schools
• 2% for Elementary Schools
• 2% for Canyon Valley School
• 3 active cases for RISE Junior High School

At that time all parents of students at that school will be notified.  While the school is in a hybrid instructional delivery model regular updates will be provided to the students and parents via email, and on the school’s website.

The move to a hybrid instructional delivery model is designed to be an additional mitigation strategy that will support a decline in the % of active positive cases at that particular school.

If it becomes necessary for a school or the district to move to a temporary hybrid or virtual instructional delivery model, the length of time will be determined by a range of factors, including but not limited to: ADHS benchmarks, Maricopa County Health benchmarks, guidance from Maricopa County Health, the school’s active case count.  Parents and families will be updated regularly.  It will be for a minimum of 14 days.

Online refers to our full-time GPS Global Academy option that is currently open for all students if they choose - K-12.  These students utilize the approved district online curriculum.

Virtual refers to temporarily moving online as part of a hybrid learning model or 5 day virtual online learning.  When a school is virtual students will remain with their in-person teachers for instruction continuing with their classroom curriculum resources.

Yes, throughout this process both district leadership and the Governing Board have been regularly reviewing both sets of benchmarks.  At every Governing Board meeting an update is provided to the Board for review and questions.

If a decision is made for a school to move to a hybrid or virtual instructional delivery model temporarily, parents will be notified immediately by email.  A text alert will be sent to parents notifying them of the email communication.  An alert will also be added to both the school and district website.  The school and district will communicate regularly with parents regarding updates and the anticipated date for a return to five days in-person.

The number of active cases per campus is monitored daily by our district leadership and Health Services team.  In addition, every Wednesday district leadership will meet to review the active case counts by school.  If a school has reached a specific % active case count per population of that campus (including students and staff) the data will be reviewed and investigated along with the district Health Services department and Maricopa County Health.

Within 24 hours it will be determined if the school will move, temporarily, to a hybrid instructional delivery model as an additional mitigation strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

If this is the case, parents and staff will be notified immediately by email, text and alerts on the school and district website.

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board prioritizes the academic, social-emotional, and physical well being of students and staff.  During the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic, it is the goal of Gilbert Public Schools District to mitigate the spread of the virus within its schools and within the community. Gilbert Public Schools will continue in-person instruction for those enrolled until, due to the spread of COVID-19, the following guidelines shows the need for change on a school by school basis to the hybrid A-L M-Z model of instruction.

Guidelines established by Gilbert Public Schools show confirmed active positive COVID-19 cases of students and staff per week equal to or higher than 1% for high schools, 1.5% for junior high schools, and 2% for elementary schools.  Canyon Valley will be based on a total of 5 confirmed active positive COVID-19 cases and the RISE program will be based on a total of 3 confirmed active positive COVID-19 cases.  The superintendent will make this decision based on the confirmed active positive COVID-19 cases reported on a weekly basis on the Gilbert Public Schools COVID-19 Dashboard.

Additionally, the entire district would move to the hybrid A-L M-Z model of instruction if two out of three guidelines for Gilbert Public Schools District boundaries as published by the Maricopa County Department of Health Services show substantial transmission (red) for two weeks.  Those guidelines show more than than 100 cases per 100,000 residents, more than 10% positivity for testing, and more than 10% COVID-like illness at hospitals as substantial transmission (red).

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board will meet to decide whether students and staff return to virtual learning for two weeks should COVID-19 cases continue to rise within the school community or within the wider Gilbert and Mesa community.  Should cases decrease during the two weeks of hybrid learning, students and staff would return to in-person instruction.  The superintendent is authorized to review appropriate data and make recommendations to the board.

This motion, unless extended by the Board, will end June 30, 2021.