K-12 education

Online learning continues to show it’s challenges within Columbia Public Schools as data shows failing grades are significantly up this year as students learn online.

School board President Helen Wade said during the board’s four-hour meeting that the youngest kids are the ones that need to be in-person first.

The Board of Education is set to vote on an in-person four-day week learning model on Monday for Columbia Public Schools to return to classrooms, while parents await to see how the decision could impact their families.

Some teachers and parents have struggled with online learning since the school year started.

The Columbia Board of Education met early Thursday morning during a work session to discuss a phased-in hybrid plan for the return of in-person students.

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said Thursday that bringing students back into the classroom in phases is the most practical way to return to school.