Back-to-school: What to know about masks, free meals, bus routes and more

It's the first day of school for 116,000 students in Wake County and thousands more across the state. Here's what you need to know.

Posted 8:00 a.m. Aug 23, 2021 — Updated 5:49 p.m. Aug 23, 2021

Jessica Patrick

, WRAL multiplatform producer

It's the first day of school for 116,000 traditional calendar students in Wake County and thousands more across the state. Here's what you need to know about another year of learning impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Masks required in most public schools

Most North Carolina school districts, including all major districts in the WRAL viewing area, have decided on mask mandates for students, teachers and staff while in school buildings and buses. Durham Public Schools, which begins classes Tuesday, was one of the first districts to reinstate a mask mandate.

School mask decisions as of Aug. 20, 2021

Masks are required in indoor spaces but not outdoors, including at recess, or while students are actively eating.

Tips to help your child get used to wearing a mask again.

Social distancing recommended, not required

Social distancing will not be required in schools, but it is recommended.

Your Voice: How are you feeling about going back to school this year?

Some procedures from the previous year will remain in place as space allows, including plexiglass shields, spacing of desks and tables, and minimizing close contact between students.

Assigned seating may be enforced in classrooms, at lunchtime and on school buses to minimize contact in case a student tests positive for COVID-19.

Learning from home

According to Wake County Public Schools, more than 90% are back in classrooms this year and 10,700 students are enrolled in Virtual Academy. Not all school districts are offering remote learning.

Wake County Superintendent Cathy Moore says there are no immediate plans to expand the district's Virtual Academy online learning option as COVID-19 cases spike for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

According to Moore, due to staffing issues, Virtual Academy is now closed to families.

Coronavirus cases have surged since the Virtual Academy opened for enrollment and then closed. When asked what the district will do if COVID-19 cases continue to spike and parents with kids in in-person learning become worried, Moore said reopening Virtual Academy hasn't been ruled out but that they are hoping safety policies in place will be enough to keep children in school.

Wake superintendent: Virtual Academy is at capacity, 90% of students in classrooms

All Wake County students will have access to Chromebooks, but students who have to stay home due to COVID-19 exposure will not have access to virtual learning.

What if a child feels ill?

In Wake County, students and staff will not be allowed in school if they have any of the following:

COVID-19 diagnosis within the last 10 days
COVID-19 exposure within the last 14 days and not fully vaccinated
Instructions to quarantine
Been sick or experiencing a fever of 100.4° fever or higher, a sore throat, a new cough, a new shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a new loss of taste or smell, diarrhea or vomiting or a new, severe headache

If a student has none of the COVID-19 symptoms listed above but still feels ill, they will be sent home or asked to stay home for 24 hours.

Children will no longer be screened for COVID-19 once they arrive at school, but families are asked to take temperatures before kids leave for school.

If a student is exposed to COVID-19 or tests positive

Wake County has a resource listing instructions for students or families with COVID-19 exposure. The guidelines are in accordance with the state Department of Health and Human Services. Find a COVID-19 test near you.

Back to School: 8 ways to help kids with their COVID fears so they're ready to learn

COVID-19 vaccines recommended

Vaccinated students exposed to COVID-19 may be able to return to school sooner than those who are unvaccinated. Vaccines are approved for people 12 and older, so high school students and many middle school students are eligible.

It takes more than a month after the first shot to become fully vaccinated, so health officials urge students to get shots as soon as possible.

Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.

WCPSS by the numbers

The largest school district in the state, Wake County has 161,800 attending school this year. There are 10,899 teachers and 617 bus drivers managing 627 bus routes.

Bus driver shortages are a common problem in area schools, and in June Wake County held a job fair for drivers, offering up to $1,200 in signing bonuses. Fifty-eight substitute bus drivers will provide assistance for the 2021-22 school year.

Masks also required on buses

Students will be required to wear masks on buses and some districts have implemented assigned seating due on buses and at lunchtime due to the pandemic. The goal is to keep small groups of children together to minimize spread if a student tests positive for COVID-19.

Approximately 91,000 students will ride the school bus this year. Wake families can download the free Here Comes the Bus app to get info on their bus route.