8:24 p.m. ET, August 18, 2020
More than 300,000 New York City students opting for all remote learning
From CNN's Elizabeth Stuart
Children in New York do their schoolwork from home in April.
Peter Titmuss/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
New York City's public schools plan to open their doors to students for some in-person learning when the school year starts in just a few weeks, but more than 300,000 students are opting to stay home for all online learning instead.
According to new data from New York City's Department of Education, at least 304,880 students have requested remote learning, a jump of 40,000 from just last week, when approximately 264,000 students planned to start the year remotely.
"School buildings will open only if the city’s rate of positive coronavirus tests is less than 3% using a seven-day rolling average, and our latest positive test rate is 1%," according to the DOE's latest release.
New York City is preparing for 697,008 students to start the year with blended learning, meaning they will attend at least some school in-person. All students will receive five days of instruction a week, whether through the blended or remote options.
"We’re able to offer a fully-remote learning model for families who are able and wish to keep their children at home. Families can opt in to full-time remote learning at any point," the DOE's release said.
According to the DOE, 37% of the students requesting remote learning are Hispanic, 28% are Asian, 20% are Black, and 12% are White.
"We know that nothing can replace in-person instruction and the many supports, including social emotion and health benefits, that students get in the classroom," the release said.
Some background: Among the top ten largest school districts in the country, New York City, the largest, with more than 1.1 million students, is the only one not planning to start the year with full online learning.
New York City schools are scheduled to return in early September and these numbers are expected to change, as families can opt into remote learning at any time, and can will have certain points to opt into blended learning during the school year.