More schools are expected to switch to remote learning in Term 2 as all education systems brace for a winter COVID-19 wave.
ACT public schools will have the toughest regulations when school returns, as Canberra's non-government schools and NSW schools loosen their restrictions.
An ACT Education Directorate spokeswoman said schools might need to access relief staff, collapse classes or move temporarily to remote learning to deal with workforce pressures.
"We expect we will continue to see temporary remote learning used in more schools this term, where a circuit breaker is needed to overcome a significant short-term teacher shortage," the spokeswoman said.
"Parents should also expect these strategies to continue throughout the school year, especially as we head into the colder months and anticipate further COVID-19 spikes will impact our workforce."
Calwell High School students will begin with remote learning in week one after the school received a prohibition notice from WorkSafe ACT relating to violent incidents.
Year 9 and 10 students will be allowed to return to campus from May 2, but year 7 and 8 students will not be allowed back until the Education Directorate can prove the school is safe.
Two new teachers and a new school leader have been recruited to support the school.
Association of Independent Schools of the ACT executive Director Andrew Wrigley said non-government schools would make use of remote learning for particular classes and cohorts as they had been doing in Term 1.
"They desperately don't want to move to remote learning but when it needs to happen it's so bleeding obvious that the tough decision is made," he said.
Mr Wrigley said there was very little pushback from parents when schools had to switch to online classes because they knew it was to keep their children safe.
In ACT public schools, mask-wearing for staff and high school students will remain mandatory and asymptomatic household contacts of cases will not be allowed to attend school in at least the first two weeks of term.
Rapid antigen tests will be available for students on request.
An ACT Education Directorate spokeswoman said public schools would be consulting staff and reviewing COVID-safety plans for the rest of the term.
"We are hoping to move towards settings that allow more interaction between families and their schools as well as an increased range of activities for students," the spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, the NSW Department of Education has advised that masks are no longer required in schools and that close contacts can keep attending school if they test negative to a rapid antigen test each morning for five school days.
The close contacts will have to wear a mask while indoors and will not be allowed on overnight excursions. NSW schools will not need to keep cohorts separate.
Canberra's Catholic systemic schools will also be changing their COVID regulations in line with ACT Health advice.
Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn director Ross Fox said masks will no longer be required as per advice from the Chief Health Officer.
"Staff and students who wish to continue wearing a mask will be free to do so," Mr Fox said.
"Staff and students who are a close contact of a person with COVID will be assessed and attend school under appropriate circumstances."
He said Catholic schools would continue to use social distancing, good ventilation and hand sanitiser to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.
Canberra's non-government schools will meet on Tuesday to discuss their COVID safety measures for Term 2.
Mr Wrigley said schools were likely to change their settings in line with the updated health advice.
"Independent schools are very agile," Mr Wrigley said.
"They will be well-prepared as they have been in past scenarios."
Statistics on new COVID infections were not provided by ACT Health on Monday.
