North Carolina’s public schools are returning to class with most students still learning at home through their computers to start the year due to continued worries about COVID-19. Nearly all schools in K-12 districts begin classes Monday. Districts and charter schools that teach about two-thirds of the 1.5 million public school students chose full-time remote learning for now. Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan also gave school boards options to hold in-person instruction with strict social distancing or provide a mix. During the past school year, school buildings closed in March and never reopened for classes.