NEW YORK — Teachers and staff at the city's public middle schools return to school buildings Wednesday as they prepare to welcome back blended learning students Thursday.

In-person learning will only apply to the 62,000 middle schools students who opted in.

The Department of Education says the schools have been working to safely prepare classrooms and get staff vaccinated.

About 30,000 staff have received at least one vaccine dose.

Public middle and high schools have been closed since November after the citywide COVID-19 infection rate surpassed three percent.

“Because we now have solid numbers of who is going to be in person and actually come to school in person, it's allowed about half of our middle schools to move to five days a week in person learning,” Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza told NY1. “Because there's smaller numbers, we can get at least half of our schools to either serve all of the students or the majority of the students five days a week, which is another improvement in in-person learning as well."

Carranza said education leaders have a goal of bringing high school students back to in-person learning before the end of this school year, but don't have an exact timeline yet.

Wednesday also marks the first day for parents to enroll their children in the city's 3K and Pre-K For All programs.

To apply, go to myschools.nyc or call 718-935-2009.