By JEFF TIRRELL
(BOSTON)– The state has released plans to return students to in-classroom learning this fall. Governor Charlie Baker and state education officials outlined the three plans at a news conference Thursday afternoon. The COVID 19 pandemic forced school districts to close classrooms in March, and they never reopened for the remainder of the school year.
Schools districts 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 the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in August.
When returning to school, state guidelines highlight these essential practices:
- Mask wear for all students grades 2 and up, with kids in kindergarten and grade 1 “encouraged” to wear them;
- All adults, including teachers, must wear masks;
- Exceptions are made for those with a disability or medical condition;
- Students should be allowed mask breaks, while standing 6 feet apart and “ideally” going outside or “at least with the windows open”;
- Families should send their kids to school with a mask – districts should use grant money to help families for whom this could be a financial hardship;
- Everyone riding the bus has to wear them;
- Consider a transparent mask which could be helpful for younger students, plus students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
“School officials now have a blueprint that they can use to create plans using three models of learning with a priority of providing in-person instruction,” Baker said. “The goal is to get kids back into the classroom, but we are advising districts to develop additional plans.”
The Governor said the ideal scenario would be for all students to get their education in their classrooms, but districts need to be ready to resort to alternative plans if a second wave of the virus hits Massachusetts at any time during the upcoming school year.