Gov. Doug Ducey’s "aspirational" school reopening target date of Aug. 17, which he has previously said would be re-evaluated, is about five weeks away.
At his Thursday press conference, he said he knows educators are asking for clarity on his plan for schools moving forward, but didn’t have much information to offer.
“I’m going to work with Superintendent Hoffman on that next week and expect that will provide additional or include flexibilities to our schools around the state," he said.
But he said Arizona will be open for learning next school year.
Calls by education groups and some parents for a further delay of in-person instruction have been growing in recent weeks.
When asked by a reporter whether Ducey would be comfortable sending his own kids, he quickly answered yes. Dr. Cara Christ, the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services and mother of three kids, said she's planning on sending them back.
"We know based on the information we have that kids are at low risk for transmission and for outcomes," she said.
Christ has noticed some detrimental impacts from kids not being at school and said she would like them to be back in that social environment.
