With the union representing tens of thousands of education workers indicating that they will continue to stand in picket lines until they secure a new collective agreement with the government, many school boards are preparing to temporarily move classrooms back online. Many have also decided to close school buildings for in-person learning throughout the duration of the strike and switch to remote learning.

This aligns with the instructions sent by the Ministry of Education to school principals before the education workers' strike on November 4, where they requested them to make "every effort possible" to keep schools open for as many children as possible. In the memo, the ministry asked the boards to support students in the rapid transition to synchronous remote learning. Compared to asynchronous learning, where students watch pre-recorded video lessons, complete assigned tasks, or contribute to online discussion boards, synchronous learning involves live online teaching in real time.

Also, most school boards in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton have issued what they plan to do next week in case the work action extends beyond November 4.

Here is what you need to know:

•Toronto District School Board (TDSB):

TDSB confirmed that all its schools will remain closed for in-person learning as long as CUPE education workers are on strike. The board says students will begin transitioning to synchronous learning next week. "Additional information about student learning, including details about technology availability, will be shared as soon as possible. In cases where students cannot participate in live online learning, they will be supported to continue learning throughout the school closure," the board said.

•Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB):

TCDSB says its schools will continue to keep their doors closed to students for the duration of CUPE work actions. Also, the board says students will move to synchronous remote learning on Monday as a result, adding: "Teachers and DECEs (Designated Early Childhood Educators) will participate in synchronous remote learning for the instructional day and will communicate with students daily."

•Peel District School Board (PDSB):

PDSB says asynchronous remote learning will continue on Monday, and if the strike extends beyond November 7, students will then transition to synchronous learning.

•Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB):

DPCDSB says schools will be closed to students on Monday and for the duration of the education workers' strike. Teachers will use this time to prepare for the transition to remote learning.

•York Region District School Board (YRDSB):

YRDSB says "independent asynchronous learning" will continue on Monday, and if education workers continue work actions thereafter, students will move to synchronous online learning. The board says teachers will be in contact with parents and students to provide the next steps.

•York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB):

YCDSB says students will undertake synchronous virtual learning starting Monday. Additionally, the board says parents and guardians should soon receive instructions from the school or their child's teacher on how to join the online classrooms.

•Durham District School Board (DDSB):

DDSB says all its schools will remain closed for in-person learning next week if education workers remain on strike. For elementary students, teachers and staff will meet Monday morning to organize schedules, and in the afternoon, synchronous virtual learning will begin. Also, for high school students, they are expected to log into Google Classroom at the start of the day on Monday.

•Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB):

DCDSB has not released its plan for next week.

•Halton District School Board (HDSB):

HDSB says elementary students will alternate between in-person and remote learning if the CUPE strike extends beyond Friday. Since schools will open for in-person learning on November 4, elementary students will engage in independent remote learning on Monday.

•Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB):

HCDSB says school buildings will remain closed as long as CUPE work action continues. On Monday, students will continue asynchronous learning. Then on Tuesday, they will move to synchronous instruction.

•Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB):

HWDSB says schools will be closed to students for in-person learning on Monday if education workers continue work actions. Instead, students will move to asynchronous learning at home on Monday.

•Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB):

HWCDSB says students will continue learning online on Monday and Tuesday, which will include some synchronous instruction.