Gov. Lujan Grisham says in-person learning can resume across the state Feb. 8

Gov. Lujan Grisham said that the state has been working with school leaders and health officials to make school buildings safer. The plan includes expanding COVID-19 surveillance testing.

"There’s no substitute for in-person learning. And there’s no negotiating about the health and safety of students, families and educators," Gov. Lujan Grisham said.

The governor added that the plan to expand in-person learning is supported by union leadership.

Guidance from the New Mexico Department of Public Education details the reentry plan.

• All schools -- elementary and secondary -- in all counties will be eligible to enter the hybrid mode, which means bringing back up to 50 percent of students at a time in order to maintain social distancing and to keep students in smaller cohorts to avoid virus transmission;
• Districts and schools with fewer than 100 students may bring back all students in a 5:1 ratio with no more than six people per enclosed indoor space;
• Districts/schools not ready to welcome back students into a full hybrid model may expand small-group instruction to all grades -- maintaining cohorts -- with up to 50 percent of students participating at a time.

NMPED says schools can move from hybrid to full reentry when their county moves into the green level of reopening.