NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — School districts across Western New York are preparing to return to fully in-person learning this fall after New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new guidelines Monday.

"We have to get back to school. And on the current trajectory, there is no reason why we can’t open schools statewide in September," said Gov. Cuomo.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Cuomo announced Monday that schools across the state can reopen for fully-in person learning in September

  • Niagara Falls City School District administrators say they are ready to reopen as soon as July if updated guidance allows

  • Superintendent Mark Laurrie said widespread remote learning will not be an option next school year

  • There are two weeks left of this school year at Niagara Falls City School district

Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie said the district will continue its current learning model for the remainder of the year, which is Pre-K through Grade 6 fully in-person, while Grades 7 - 12 are hybrid.

He said come September the district will be ready to return to in-person instruction with no plans to offer remote learning regularly.

"If we leave that remote option open, that wide, you’re gonna run into a hard time getting kids to come into school. So we’ve gotta close that window, we’ve gotta tell them this is where you need to be," said Laurrie. 

He also said the district has 12 summer programs ready to go for July if Gov. Guomo announces any updates to guidance that would allow them to commence as usual.

Niagara Falls City School District currently has 7,016 students who will be returning to the classroom in September.