BOSTON — Massachusetts released guidelines to superintendents Thursday with a goal of getting students back into classrooms this fall after the coronavirus pandemic forced districts to turn to remote learning in March.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley released the guidelines after weeks of discussion with members of the state’s Return-to-School Working Group, infectious disease physicians and pediatricians.
“Districts and schools should begin planning for a fall return that includes multiple possibilities, with a focus first and foremost on getting our students back into school buildings,” Riley said.
The suggestions are “initial guidance for school reopening this fall that prioritizes getting our students back to school in person — safely, following a comprehensive set of health and safety requirements.”
Schools are advised to plan for three possibilities: in-person learning with new safety requirements; a hybrid of in-person and remote learning; and remote learning. Districts are required to submit fall reopening plans for all three models to DESE in August.
For in-person learning, a mask or face covering provided by the student’s family will be required for students in grades 2 and above, however younger children will be encouraged to wear a mask or face covering. All adults, including educators and staff, will also be required to wear a mask or face covering.
Read: Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance
Districts will be encouraged to aim for 6 feet between students, however a minimum of 3 feet will be required. Desks should be spaced 6 feet apart, but no fewer than 3 feet apart, face the same direction, and students will have assigned seats.
There will be no maximum on the number of students in a class, however schools are advised to divide students into small groups that remain with each other throughout the day.
Screening children for COVID-19 symptoms will be the responsibility of parents, and not schools, and temperatures will not be taken.
Students will be required to wash or sanitize their hands upon arrival to school, before eating, before putting on or taking off a mask and before dismissal.
“Our goal for the fall is to safely bring back as many students as possible to in-person school settings, to maximize learning and address our students’ holistic needs,” Riley said in the memo.”
If opting for a hybrid learning model, Riley suggested that schools split students into two groups that alternate days and times they are in class. Provisions will be made for students who are considered “high need” and for those without access to an internet or computer.
In releasing the guidelines, Riley said evidence suggests schools have not played a significant role in COVID-19 transmission and that children are less likely than adults to be infected with COVID-19.
The state is making funding sources available for schools, which includes $202 million to support schools reopening and $25 million for remote learning technology grants.
Officials are also urging adults and children to get vaccinated for the flu because flu symptoms “closely mirror COVID-19 symptoms,” and managing a bad flu season and the presence of COVID-19 could be disruptive.
WCVB-5 Jun 25, 2020