by Mick Rhodes | mickrhodes@claremont-courier.com

The overwhelming majority of Claremont Unified School District families have chosen to enroll their students in the blended learning program for the upcoming school year.

Out of a projected enrollment of around 6,800 students, just 637 chose online instruction only  with no on-campus component, the balance opting for blended learning program with daily synchronous and asynchronous instruction and a return to campus as soon as the district deems it is safe to do so.

The approximately 6,167 students who chose the blended learning will automatically move to partial on campus learning when the school board votes to move to phase two.

No on campus classes are being offered now because CUSD is in phase one, which is completely online. When COVID case numbers improve, the CUSD board will consider moving to phase two, which allows for some on campus instruction.

When LA County comes off the Governor Gavin Newsom’s watch list, CUSD would technically be cleared to move to phase two, pending board approval.

“However, we are not going to move to phase two just because we come off the governor’s watch list,” CUSD Superintendent Jim Elsasser said. “The board will vote to move to phase two  when we feel it is safe for students and staff to return to the classroom.”

Out of the 637 families who chose online classes only, 403 picked Claremont Online Remote Education or CORE, and 234 selected Claremont Home Alternative Mastery Program or CHAMP.

The deadline to choose between blended learning, CORE or CHAMP was August 3. School begins September 2.

All students, whether currently enrolled in blended learning, CORE or CHAMP, may have the option to switch programs at the end of first semester, Mr. Elsasser said.