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Coronavirus flipped the start of the school year on its head. From March, some states began closing down in-school education and sending kids to kitchen tables to start learning from home.
Now term two is on its way (and has already started if you're in Victoria), and it's raising a lot of questions about what's next.
So where do the states stand on returning to school? Can you send your child on a random day? And what about out-of-school care?
Here's what parents need to know going into term two.
Who is an 'essential' worker?
First up, this is a phrase that's come up a lot, particularly from the Prime Minister.
And in some states it's a criteria for who can physically send their kids to school, so parents are asking: Do I count?
But as Scott Morrison says: "If you have a job in this economy, then that's an essential job."
So what does that mean when it comes to schooling?
Mr Morrison told Channel 7 this week: "We have always said if you can't provide a suitable learning environment for your child at home, and in most cases that's because people have to go to work … then no child can or should be turned away at schools or childcare centres."
And Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan says it's something all premiers and territory leaders have agreed to — keeping schools open for parents who physically have to go out to work (as well as for vulnerable kids).
He had this message for those essential workers:
"Please do not feel guilty about sending your students to school. You are playing a vital role in helping our economy, in helping our society get through this."
Victoria is the first state facing the back-to-school test, with classes starting up today. But Premier Daniel Andrews says there won't be a cut-and-dry list of who can and can't send their kids to school.
"We want to be as flexible as possible and acknowledge that everyone's circumstances are different," he said.
"Many of us when we think about the word 'essential worker' might have a very narrow frame when it came to that ... I put it to you that people who are stacking shelves, running checkouts, driving trucks, public transport, cleaning hospitals, all the way through to critical care, are critical roles and we're thankful for the work they're doing."
But there's a bit of variation in the plan to deliver schooling for each state and territory. Let's break that down.
Is there anywhere that's going back to the physical classroom?
Essential worker or not, there are some places where parents can, or even should, send their kids off to school.
The Northern Territory says all students are expected back on school grounds from April 20.
"Unless your school contacts you directly with alternative arrangements, you should plan for your child to physically attend school," Education Minister Selena Uibo said.
There can still be exceptions if needed, but parents must have told their child's school they'll be learning from home.
In South Australia, the choice to keep children home or send them to school is with the parents.
But teachers there used pupil-free days earlier this month to work on flexible learning options, a Department for Education spokesman said.
That's so teachers can meet the needs of students learning either in the classroom or from home next term (which starts on April 27).
The advice from the state's Chief Public Health Officer remains that schools, preschools, early childhood services and out-of-school care should remain open.
Where is online learning largely here to stay (for now)?
In Victoria, where kids returned to school today, the message is that all children who can learn from home must learn from home.
"I want to confirm for you — if you can have your kids educated at home, that's exactly what you must do," Daniel Andrews said.
There are three main exceptions: children with parents who can't work from home (those essential workers), vulnerable students and some end-of-schooling students.
The last one allows for small groups of VCE and VCAL students to go to schools for short periods to tackle something they really can't get done at home.
This will last for all of term two, according to the State Government, and be reviewed at the end.
For Queensland, the first five weeks of term two are going online.
Teachers will be at school delivering online and in-person classes. Those who are in class will be the children of essential workers, the vulnerable, and children in designated Indigenous communities.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says they'll review how the system is working on May 15 and decide by May 25 if the balance is right.
"It is very difficult, but these are not normal times," she said.
Tasmania has also moved to home learning for next term. Again, schools there will remain open for anyone who cannot supervise their children, which includes parents with work commitments.
In the ACT, children should stay home to learn if they can, with remote teaching to run from the start of term two.
But not all ACT schools will be open for supervision if parents are essential workers and need that help. The exact schools haven't been selected yet.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
Who is still deciding?
Some states have a bit longer to make the final call.
In New South Wales, the Department of Education says it is "carefully considering all options" and the decision will be made alongside health authorities.
But the Department has told schools to plan for distance learning in term two, which starts on April 27.
"No child in NSW will be turned away from school. While schools remain open, parents are encouraged to keep their children at home if possible," a spokeswoman said.
By the end of term one, 95 per cent of students in the state were learning from home.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Western Australia has a similar timeline to NSW and is still deciding on its longer-term model.
In March, the state's Education Minister Sue Ellery said that model would probably be a mixture.
"I think it will be a combination of physical attendance at schools — maybe some schools, maybe all schools — plus a combination of distanced education which will be hard copy packs and online," she said.
Can I send my child on a random day if needed?
If your work needs you to go in, then you would be classed as an essential worker (according to the PM), so yes.
The broad policy is no-one should be turned away if their parent works or they're a vulnerable child.
So that would include parents who have to work part-time.
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That's unless you're in the Northern Territory, where students should show up to school regardless.
And students who are physically at school are supposed to be doing the same work they would at home, so their education shouldn't be interrupted.
What about out-of-hours school care?
Again, this depends on your state and school.
In Queensland, out-of-hours centres can keep running where there is demand, but authorities recommend checking with your provider.
In the ACT, before- and after-school care will be available. But that will be at the same schools the territory opens up for on-site teaching — so not every location will be running.
What you need to know about coronavirus:
Topics: infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, covid-19, education, schools, australia