Maryland State Department of Education board members voted on a new set of guidelines for local school systems on Tuesday, granting school systems until the end of 2020 to meet certain online learning requirements.

Per the recommendations passed on Tuesday, local districts must have an average of 3.5 hours of synchronous learning across all grade levels over the course of the day, meaning students are receiving real-time, virtual interaction with their teacher. Half-day pre-K students must receive at least 1.5 hours of online learning under the real-time supervision of a teacher over the course of their half-day.

Systems will have until the end of the year to establish an average of least 3.5 hours of synchronous learning across all grades — meaning eighth graders may receive four hours, and second graders can receive two, for example. The breakdown of hours per grade will be up to the local boards in each jurisdiction. Synchronous learning, per the state’s definition, can come in the form of guided lessons, one-on-one check-ins between a student and teacher, or group work.

The vote comes after the State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon proposed a minimum number of synchronous learning hours last Monday, with the requirement that all school systems meet that minimum by Sept. 28. Board members decided to delay that vote until Tuesday, Sept. 1, to allow for more discussion.

During Tuesday’s meeting, board members amended Salmon’s original proposal, giving school systems until the end of the calendar year to meet the minimum number of synchronous hours — adding that the state will offer technical assistance to help local systems meet the requirement. Board members went back-and-forth on the details and definitions outlined in the proposed guidelines.

Per the regulations, school systems like Montgomery and Prince George’s counties — who previously indicated they would remain completely virtual until 2021 — should re-evaluate their plans for in-person learning by the end of the first quarter in November, and submit these considerations to the state. Local school boards will still have to vote on new guidances and plans for implementation.

Before the board voted on the new recommendations, board member Lori Morrow proposed delaying a vote again, with the hopes that school systems and the public could weigh on the guidelines after two or three weeks of school had passed. The motion eventually failed in a 7-6 vote in favor of delaying — it would have needed eight votes to pass.

The state’s new guidelines come on the second day of virtual class for many students across the D.C. region and after weeks of criticism from local systems about Maryland’s lack of school reopening guidance. Montgomery and Prince George’s County public schools began their first day of complete-remote learning on Monday — albeit with various technical snafus. Gov. Larry Hogan urged school systems to reconsider their virtual plans last Thursday, only five days before some schools began classes. Earlier this month, superintendents of local school systems in Maryland called for a more detailed guidance plan from the state.

According to Carol Williamson, the deputy state superintendent for teaching and learning, the board will address return-to-classroom plans for special needs students in the next meeting on Sept. 22.