Schools should reopen when it is safe to do so for all learners. Until then, administrators should continue to prepare by providing training on water and hygiene facilities for teachers, school management and technical staff, as well as for students, parents and their families. They should also encourage and promote the use of handwashing, respiratory etiquette (coughing or sneezing into the elbow), physical distancing and cleaning procedures for facilities, as well as recognition of flu-like symptoms.
As the virus continues to evolve and re-advance, it is critical that schools, local education agencies (LEAs), and state educational agencies (SEAs) continue to assess stakeholders’ needs as they consider the reopening of their classrooms. Nonprofits, policymakers and teachers unions call for LEAs to prioritize student social-emotional health and well-being and access to learning opportunities – not to push ahead with a rigid schedule of standards and accountability.
LEAs are evaluating reopening options, including in-person instruction, hybrid teaching and learning, and remote learning. Some are using survey instruments to gather feedback from stakeholders on issues such as social-emotional well-being, technology use, transportation challenges and child care needs in their reopening plans.
RIDE has published guidance that is divided into action-driven checklists addressing general considerations, school operations, whole child supports, staff and professional learning, academics, and remote learning. The state educational agency has emphasized the importance of equity in reopening schools and has recommended that educators take this opportunity to pilot dynamic ways to assess student needs, including prioritizing access to well-rounded learning for vulnerable students.
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