Northern Highlands students are returning to school for full day in-person instruction with a lunch period.  Depending on the COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI) Report for our area, Northern Highlands will continue to follow CDC and Bergen County Department of Health guidance.  However, it must be noted that Northern Highlands is required to develop a Safe Return Plan.  Please take the time to review the plan and provide feedback via the Google form embedded below.  Thank you. 

Northern Highlands Safe Return Plan

In April 2020, Governor Murphy issued an executive order that became P.L.2020, c.27. This law provides for the continuity of instruction in the event of a public-health-related district closure so that LEAs can utilize virtual or remote instruction to satisfy the 180-day requirement pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-9. In order to provide transparency and ensure that New Jersey students continue to receive high quality, standards-based instruction, each school district, charter school, renaissance school project and Approved Private School for Students with Disabilities (APSSDs) must annually submit its proposed program for virtual or remote instruction (plan) to the Commissioner of Education. 

This plan will be implemented during a district closure lasting more than three consecutive school days due to a declared state of emergency, declared a public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure. A superintendent must consult with the board of education, if practicable, prior to implementing the school district’s plan of virtual or remote instruction. A day of virtual or remote instruction, if instituted under a plan approved by the Commissioner of Education, is considered the equivalent of a full day of school attendance for the purposes of meeting State and local graduation requirements, awarding of course credit, and such other matters as determined by the Commissioner of Education. LEAs must include the statutory requirements listed in the “LEA Guidance for Chapter 27 Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Programs for the 2022-2023 SY,” in their plans for virtual or remote instruction for the 2022-2023 school year.

Emergency Virtual or Remote Instructional Plan