Schools in New Jersey will have the option to stay closed and teach lessons voluntarily if they meet a list of conditions, Gov. announced. Phil Murphy on Wednesday in a decision that could change back-to-school plans for many of the state’s 1.4 million public school students.
Murphy’s announcement means that the state’s nearly 600 school districts, which were previously told they would have to keep at least some classes personal to begin the 2020-2021 school year, should have a few weeks to finalize their plans before it school year begins.
There is no one-size-fits-all plan for all of the state’s public school districts, Murphy said. The state will continue to allow local school boards to make their own decisions about what is best for their districts.
“We recognize that for some districts there are legitimate and documented reasons why some of these core health and safety standards may not be met on Day One,” Murphy said at his recent coronavirus briefing in Trenton. “For these districts, we reaffirm our commitment today to provide the flexibility for districts to do what’s best for their school community.”
Under the new revised plan:
– Both non-public and public schools must submit a certification to the State Board of Education that they can comply with the state’s health and safety rules, including social distance guidelines, on the first day of the person classes.
– Schools will need to complete a checklist on the State Department of Education website that states they can meet more than 40 guidelines for in-person classes. The items on the list include: social distance in classrooms and on buses; safe entry points for schools; require masks; making a contact follow-up plan; establish a safe way for students to eat meals; and a plan for recession and gym classes outside.
– If schools say they cannot meet one or more of the guidelines, the districts may request to start the year with all-remote learning.
Districts that are allowed to start the year all-remotely must show that they are trying to make changes to start person classes at a later date. “Public school districts will have to explain their plans for complying with these non-compliant standards, and a date on which they expect the ability to resume instruction in person,” Murphy said.
– Additional new health guidelines for schools will be “hammered out” and will be available by Thursday, Murphy said.
State officials said they were not sure how many school districts had already asked to start the school only remotely, but said the vast majority of the districts had made hybrid plans with some classes in person.
Neely Hackett, Willingboro’s superintendent, said her district is among those asking to start the school year only because her schools are not ready for classes in person. The district wants to keep school buildings closed by the end of the first marking period in November.
“We are just not ready to move forward,” Hackett said at the governor’s press conference.
Willingboro eventually wants to use a hybrid system with students going to class two days a week on a rotating basis and teaching the remaining three days a week at home.
She cited several reasons that Willingboro does not want to offer classes for individuals, including: inadequate ventilation systems and a lack of air conditioning; back-up masks and other personal protective equipment; a delay in the delivery of physical barriers to be installed in schools; extra time needed to buy computers; and need more time to train teachers in how to teach in class and via video for students at home at the same time.
The East Brunswick superintendent also attended the press conference and said his district is ready to hold classes in person and will not ask permission to keep everyone at a distance.
The state’s nearly 600 school districts have already begun submitting their plans again to the state Department of Education for approval. Several districts – including Elizabeth, Jersey City, Bayonne – said they were planning to turn into plans that did not include person classes, in violation of the state’s previous guidelines.
The governor’s decision to allow school districts more flexibility in reopening schools follows intense pressure from teachers who felt unsafe returning to class and a growing chorus of lawmakers and ward leaders who want schools closed. to stay.
It also comes as New Jersey’s broader pressure to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic has largely stalled as a result of rising rates of infection, leaving the state’s economic recovery in limbo.
Murphy ordered all schools in New Jersey to close beginning March 18th. They remained close through the end of the 2019-20 school year, while students in thousands attended public and private schools at a distance.
The governor’s original reopening plan, released in June, said public schools should be required to reopen at least in part. Some districts had plans to limit student instruction to only half a day a week, while a few said they would offer five days of classes. Most districts plan hybrid plans, and mix classes in person with several days of home learning during the week.
When more parents demanded to keep their children at home, Murphy announced in July that all families would also have an option for distance learning for public school if they preferred. But districts were still asked to come up with renewed plans with at least some classroom instruction for all students.
Murphy had previously said he believed it was important for New Jersey to offer personal classes because many low-income and working parents did not have the time, space or childcare options to continue teaching their children. back home.
Our journalism needs your support. Por favor sign up today no NJ.com.
Kelly Heyboer can be reached to [email protected].
Tell us your coronavirus story or send us a tip over here.
