Several public school districts released statements on Monday following the announcement of New Mexico students being able to return to class in-person by April 5.The state's largest school district, APS said in a statement, "Albuquerque Public Schools is updating its plan to get students back in the classroom, following the state Public Education Department's announced expectation that all New Mexico public and charter schools return to in-person learning by early April.Education Secretary Ryan Stewart on Monday credited the push for a full return to in-person learning to a statewide effort to get COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of all teachers and school staff who want them by the end of the month. State officials also cited safety measures and the decreasing spread of the virus. APS, which has continually updated its school re-entry plan throughout the pandemic as the spread of the virus increased and declined, will present its latest plan to the Board of Education in the coming days. The plan, as always, will abide by COVID safe practices and public health orders. It also will give families the option to continue remote learning for their children for the remainder of the school year.Other details are still being worked out."Following APS, Rio Rancho Public Schools released a statement saying, "This afternoon, New Mexico Public Education Department Cabinet Secretary Ryan Stewart announced the expansion to full, in-person learning for all New Mexico schools beginning on April 5, 2021. This announcement comes nearly a year to the day when schools were first closed to in-person learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited for this opportunity to welcome all students who want to return, back to in-person learning. Those wishing to stay virtual will be allowed to remain virtual. We will be working on next steps and will keep you updated with information and plans for school reentry.In addition, today we learned that all New Mexico school staff are now eligible to be vaccinated and are being prioritized for vaccine distribution by the end of the month. We have a number of employees who have scheduled their first appointment, have received their first dose and many who have received both doses. We are grateful that the federal government directed the prioritization of vaccines for educators and our school staff members.Other exciting news included guidelines around our Fine Arts music programs, particularly singing and band (wind instruments). This will now be allowed given key safety requirements are followed. In addition, all school districts are now eligible to participate in NMAA sanctioned activities.We know that this year has been extremely challenging for our staff, students and families. As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to adjust to new changes. Please continue to watch your email, the RRPS Reentry Newsletter, our social media sites and www.rrps.net/schoolreentryupdates for specific information on next steps, etc."Los Lunas Schools responded saying, "Starting the week of March 29, schools will be creating a re-orientation schedule for students. This will allow for students to learn our COVID-19 safe practices, allow for teachers and students to build relationships, and learn about the upcoming instructional schedules that each school site will be offering. Starting April 6, students will be back on campus for full-day in-person learning."Fort Sumner Municipal Schools said in a statement, "The NM Public Education Department has announced that schools will be allowed to return to full-time in-person learning. FS Schools will spend the remainder of this week preparing for students to return after Spring Break. We will return to an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule on Monday, March 22, 2021. The mask mandate will continue and the schools will practice social distancing and appropriate hygiene protocols. Of course, this means athletic practices will go back to normal times. Please contact the high school or elementary office if you are interested in remote learning, which will only be available through Edgenuity, a computer-based curriculum. Teachers will not be teaching through Zooms after the March 22nd start date. As always, we are thrilled to see all of our students together on campus and moving toward a more normal schedule."Hobbs Municipal Schools said, "In accordance with the Public Education Department's message today, Hobbs Municipal Schools will return to face-to-face instruction five days a week for all students in all grades on March 29 (the Monday after Spring Break.) Hybrid scheduling will no longer exist. However, students will still have the option to learn from home (HOLA).In other words, students will either attend school five days a week with ALL of their classmates or will learn remotely via HOLA. Parents will have the opportunity to switch their child's method of instruction through Skyward until March 12.Due to the timing of the announcement, all changes to student's method of instruction (in-person or HOLA) will go into effect on March 29.HMS will continue to produce updates throughout the week."Farmington Municipal Schools said in a statement, "Farmington Municipal Schools is aware of an announcement made today from New Mexico Secretary of Education Ryan Stewart which stated that all New Mexico public schools would be approved for a full Return to Learn for any students choosing in-person learning by April 5th. Secretary Stewart and FMS also announced that students and parents wishing to remain in remote at-home learning will still be afforded that opportunity.School Superintendent Gene Schmidt celebrated today’s announcement from NMPED Secretary Stewart. Schmidt said, “I welcomed the news that students will be fully allowed to return in-person on April 5th. We have been waiting since March of last year. These next weeks of normalcy will be a great way to end the year. For those families that choose to stay in remote learning, Team Farmington will continue to provide a high quality at-home learning experience.