2 school districts face audit over timelines for returning to in-person learning

BOSTON — Massachusetts is taking action against two school districts over their education plans.

The state is now auditing Watertown and East Longmeadow, which are not moving forward with in-person learning.

By state measures, both communities have been moving down when it comes to the risk of coronavirus spread in recent reports.

The state now wants to see a timeline on when both districts will shift to in-person learning for a majority of students.

Gov. Charlie Baker has said he wants communities at a lower risk of COVID-19 to get as many students in classrooms as possible.

Watertown and East Longmeadow are among 16 communities that were told in September that they could face audits for not following health guidelines.

Watertown has brought its highest-needs students back in the classroom and is scheduled to bring elementary students back next week, the Boston Globe reported.

East Longmeadow students are attending class remotely. School officials said they would re-assess the plan in December.

A state education spokeswoman told the Boston Globe that most districts have been moving forward with their in-person learning timelines.