The New York City Department of Education has a robust plan in place to reopen schools, and the United Federation of Teachers is cheering the decision. However, there are key questions about the protocols that will be followed, particularly around remote learning.
To reduce the risk of school-wide transmission, the department’s reopening strategy combines multiple layers of mitigation strategies. The first is a strong focus on testing and tracing. Schools and classrooms are monitored by the NYC Test & Trace Corps, a team of public health professionals and community volunteers working for the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. They swab students and staff, using a nasal swab for molecular tests that detect the presence of viral genetic material. The Corps communicates results to the department, helping identify cases of student-to-student or staff-to-staff transmission. It also operates a hotel placement program that allows individuals to quarantine safely away from family and friends.
In addition to testing, the department’s reopening plan includes strict guidelines for masking, ventilation, and social distancing. The Department of Education will conduct random temperature screening checks at all schools, and any student or staff who registers a fever above 100.0 degrees will be prohibited from entering the building until they are clear to return home.
Families completed a survey about their learning preferences prior to the November shutdown, and will be given the opportunity to opt in for a hybrid model (in-person instruction plus remote learning) this fall. They will be able to shift to an all-remote learning option if they wish.